Raphinha's injury nightmare: 26 missed games threaten Barcelona hopes

Brazilian winger Raphinha saw his 2025‑26 season with Barcelona derailed by injuries, missing a total of 26 matches for club and country and ending his campaign as Brazil exited the FIFA World Cup without playing a minute on the final night. Images by Al Bello and Dan Mullan captured the winger’s struggles throughout the season, illustrating the physical toll of his setbacks. The photographs were taken during club and international fixtures. Raphinha’s first injury arrived at the end of September when a biceps femoris strain forced a two‑month layoff. The absence cost him 13 matches for Barcelona and Brazil, including the El Clasico and a clash with Paris Saint‑Germain. He returned to action in November, but a discomfort in January saw him miss the game against Real Sociedad. A subsequent niggle forced him out of three more fixtures, among them the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal versus Atletico Madrid.

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At the end of March the winger suffered his most severe setback, missing seven consecutive games for club and country. The spell coincided with crucial UEFA Champions League fixtures, further hampering Barcelona’s campaign. During the FIFA World Cup, Raphinha sustained another thigh injury in the match against Haiti, ruling him out of three games, including the decisive encounter with Norway in which Brazil were eliminated. Raphinha has expressed deep regret over a season he describes as fragile and injury‑prone. He now begins a recovery programme aimed at returning fit before preseason, with Barcelona pledging close monitoring of his condition. Coach Flick has stressed that the winger is irreplaceable in his setup and that achieving full fitness is non‑negotiable for the upcoming campaign.