Raphinha’s Season of Setbacks: Five-Week Hamstring Blow Deals Barcelona Title Chase a Major Blow

Barcelona’s push for a La Liga and Champions League double has suffered a severe jolt after the club confirmed that star winger Raphinha will be sidelined for five weeks with a right hamstring injury sustained on international duty. The 29-year-old Brazilian limped off in first-half stoppage time of Brazil’s 2–1 friendly defeat to France in Boston on Thursday, and subsequent tests performed by the Brazilian Football Federation revealed the extent of the damage.

A club statement released on Friday read: “Raphinha has a right hamstring injury, as confirmed by medical tests carried out by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) following the discomfort he experienced during the Brazil vs. France match in Boston on Thursday. The player is returning to Barcelona to begin the appropriate treatment. The estimated recovery time is five weeks.”

This is the third hamstring-related layoff Raphinha has endured this campaign, underscoring a season punctuated by physical misfortune. The fresh timeline rules him out for the entirety of April, a period that shapes up as defining for Hansi Flick’s side. Barcelona are scheduled for six pivotal fixtures, beginning with a La Liga showdown against Atlético Madrid that doubles as a precursor to their Champions League quarter-final showdown with the same opposition. Raphinha will also miss league meetings with city rivals Espanyol, Celta Vigo, and Getafe. Should the Catalans advance past Atlético, the first leg of the Champions League semi-final—slated for 28–29 April—would arrive too soon, leaving the winger in a desperate race for fitness.

In Raphinha’s absence, Marcus Rashford—who filled the void during an earlier hamstring setback—is poised to reclaim the left-wing role. Alternatives include Fermín López or Dani Olmo operating wide, with the other slotting into the No. 10 position, while Ferran Torres remains an option despite having featured primarily as a center-forward under Flick. None, however, replicate Raphinha’s blend of direct running, creative thrust, and leadership, qualities that have made his repeated absences all the more painful for a squad chasing major honours.

With the business end of the season upon them, Barcelona must now navigate a make-or-break month without one of their most influential figures, knowing that any slip could derail dreams of domestic and European glory.