Barcelona World Cup spotlight: A tough outing for Raphinha and Brazil

Barcelona World Cup spotlight: A tough outing for Raphinha and Brazil It took three days, but Barcelona finally had one of their players step onto the stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After a quiet start to the tournament from a Barça perspective, Saturday finally gave supporters a reason to keep a closer eye on the action. Raphinha was the only Barcelona player involved on the day, starting for Brazil in their Group C clash against Morocco. It was a packed day of football, with four games spread across 12 hours and plenty of drama across the tournament. Switzerland and Qatar opened the day with a tense 1-1 draw, a result that will have frustrated the Swiss after they wasted several chances and allowed Qatar to snatch a late equaliser. The headline fixture came next, as Brazil faced Morocco in one of the most anticipated games of the group stage so far. The match began with real energy and promise, but gradually lost its edge as both sides settled for another 1-1 draw. Scotland then marked their long-awaited return to the World Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti. It was an emotional occasion for both nations, with Scotland appearing in the tournament for the first time in 28 years and Haiti ending a 52-year wait. Turkey and Australia brought the day to a close in the final fixture of the matchday. For Barcelona fans, though, the main focus was clear. Raphinha finally became the first Barca player to feature at this World Cup, and his performance against Morocco offered a mixed but interesting start to his campaign. Raphinha could not inspire Barcelona to a victory. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Here is how the Brazilian winger got on. Raphinha vs Morocco Raphinha’s display against the AFCON champions had plenty of effort, as is always the case with the Brazilian, but not enough of his clinical edge. The Barcelona winger went the distance against Morocco, in a game that never really settled into the rhythm one would have expected from Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Brazil had 51 per cent possession, 1.27 xG, five shots on target and 22 touches in the Morocco box, but the performance still felt short of real control. For Raphinha, the game was frustrating. He finished without a goal or an assist, and his clearest moment came late in the second half. Vinicius Jr., the goalscorer on the night, squared a cross-field ball to him, and his shot was comfortably saved by Bono. This, in essence, was Raphinha’s night. He was heavily involved and offered a lot of energy, but he was just not decisive enough. It was not a worrying performance, but with the Barcelona man one of the protagonists for Brazil alongside Vinicius Jr., it was not the kind of display they expected from him. A frustrating outing for Raphinha. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Raphinha’s value at Barca has often come from his intensity, pressing and directness but also his ability to step up when the lights shine brightest. Against Morocco, he had the work rate, but that was it. Part of it also has to come down to the structure. Brazil struggled badly in midfield during the first half, and Morocco’s pressing made it difficult for the wide players to receive clean service. Raphinha started the game on the left, moved to the right, then to the No. 10 position and even played as the striker, not allowing him to settle into one position. Despite all this, there is a positive angle. Raphinha played the full game, stayed physically sharp and Brazil’s next fixture against Haiti could be the game where he comes into the tournament. This was not a disastrous start for Raphinha. It was a quiet one. Hopefully, it was the calm before the storm.