As the international break draws to a close, several Barcelona players are set to return to club duties after representing their national teams. Fortunately for the Catalans, this break spared them any major setbacks, with the majority of their players returning in good shape.
Lamine Yamal, who left the Spanish national team camp early due to a minor muscular overload, has already returned to Barcelona and is reportedly in good health. Robert Lewandowski, who picked up a minor knock after coming off the bench last night, is also expected to return without any serious concerns.
Other key players, such as Pedri and Jules Koundé, completed the break without any fitness issues and made valuable contributions to their respective national teams. However, one standout performer set to return with his confidence sky-high is Brazilian winger Raphinha.
The 27-year-old took full advantage of his opportunity to lead Brazil’s attack in the absence of Vinícius Jr. Raphinha played a pivotal role in Brazil’s 4-0 victory over Peru last night, scoring the first two goals from the penalty spot.
The 27-year-old seized the opportunity to lead Brazil’s attack in the absence of Vinícius Jr. Raphinha played a crucial role in Brazil’s 4-0 victory over Peru, scoring the first two goals from the penalty spot. His performance was not only pivotal in the match but also highlighted his growing influence on the team.
After the game against Peru, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, the €60 million-rated Barcelona forward spoke to the media about the importance of Brazil’s consecutive wins, including a 2-1 victory over Chile last Thursday:
“We needed that. And not just winning one game. It was very important to win two consecutive matches in the qualifiers.”
These victories have placed Brazil in a strong position, tying them with Uruguay on 16 points in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and pulling ahead of Ecuador and Paraguay, thereby solidifying their fourth-place standing.
Raphinha acknowledged that while the team is not yet perfect, they are on the right track. Reflecting on his role as a penalty taker, Raphinha noted that several players in the squad are adept at converting penalties and that they had prepared for such situations.
When the referee awarded the first penalty, the players discussed who should take it and decided to let the one “with the most confidence” step up. “Since I had already scored the first one, they let me take the other,” he explained.
The Brazilian already has 12 goal contributions in 11 appearances for Barcelona this season. Now, with his confidence bolstered further by his outstanding performance during the break, he is set to return to the club ready to make a significant impact as the Catalans gear up for crucial upcoming fixtures against Sevilla, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid.
