Barcelona star set to miss FIFA World Cup Round of 16 due to recovery delay

Untimely injuries have plagued FC Barcelona frequently in recent years and it is definitely something that no one likes to see. Unfortunately for a certain key player of the Catalan giants, a new injury continues to ruin his FIFA World Cup experience.

Raphinha, aged 29, is currently sidelined due to an injury he suffered in Brazil’s second group game of the tournament against Haiti. Due to an injury in the back of his right thigh, there was a lot of uncertainty regarding his recovery but many had hoped that he would be back in time for Brazil’s Round of 16 fixture.

Unfortunately, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, the player’s chances of returning for Brazil’s Round of 16 clash against Norway are now gone. He is reportedly still unable to train at the same intensity as the rest of his teammates, and Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have to face off against Norway and Erling Haaland without him as he faces an ongoing recovery delay.

However, the player could still return later in the tournament if Brazil manages to qualify for the quarter-finals. Until then, the Barcelona star will have to support his team away from the pitch and he will be hoping that they can get the job done without him.

As for Barcelona, they will be quite concerned with Raphinha’s muscle injury problems throughout the season. The Brazilian player remained sidelined for a decent chunk of last season, and with these issues now haunting his World Cup campaign as well, a lot of attention and care is needed with his recovery.

The report does confirm that the Barcelona medical staff remains in contact with the Brazilian staff to keep a close eye on his progress. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old forward still needs some time to regain full fitness it seems. Hopefully, it should not take him much longer to make his return to the pitch again for his country.