Barcelona's Raphinha excluded from Brazil's World Cup Qualifiers squad
Raphinha, FC Barcelona's talented winger, has been unexpectedly left out of the Brazil national team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The decision was made by Brazil manager Dorival Junior, who announced his squad on August 24. This comes as a surprise given Raphinha's recent performance in the Copa America tournament where he scored a goal.
Raphinha's consistent performance overlooked
Despite consistently delivering strong performances for both his club and country, Raphinha has often been overlooked. This summer, rumors circulated about his potential departure from Barcelona even though he was among the team's top performers last season. Now, he finds himself excluded from the national team in favor of less experienced players like Estevao Willian and Real Madrid's Endrick.
Raphinha's exclusion coincides with Barcelona captaincy announcement
The news of Raphinha's exclusion from the Brazil squad coincided with his selection as one of the five captains for Barcelona in the 2024/25 season. This could have been a double celebration for him, but instead he now faces the challenge of proving himself worthy of rejoining Brazil's national team. Despite this setback, Raphinha remains committed to demonstrating his value on the pitch and earning back his place in future squads.
Brazil's squad for World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City). Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Borussia Dortmund), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Wendell (Porto), Beraldo, Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal). Midfielders: André (Fluminense), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham). Strikers; Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Endrick (Real Madrid), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Palmeiras), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Pedro (Flamengo), Savinho (Manchester City).
