Raphinha underwent surgery earlier than Barcelona would have preferred so he could join Brazil for their final friendlies of 2026, despite concerns over his fitness and the risk of further injury.
The Barcelona winger had a sebaceous cyst removed from his ear on 26 October, shortly after the clasico against Real Madrid, according to Marca, citing reports from Brazil. He had suffered a blow to his head earlier that month, injuring his left ear before the affected area became swollen and caused severe pain.
The injury was difficult to manage during the season, Globo Sport reported. Painkillers alone were not considered sufficient, leaving repeated drainage of accumulated fluid or surgery as the available options.
Raphinha opted for the operation and brought it forward because he did not want to miss Brazil’s upcoming friendly matches against Japan and Singapore. Barcelona had preferred him to wait until the current international break, when he would have had more time to recover away from the demands of club football.
The 29-year-old missed some training while the wound healed, but returned in time to play for Barcelona with a protective bandage around his head. The issue did not prevent him from making a significant attacking contribution after his return, as he scored twice in the 6-1 victory over Alaves before adding two more goals against Aston Villa in the Champions League.
Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff are understood to appreciate Raphinha’s decision to have the operation early. They believe it helped ensure he would be available for Brazil’s final friendlies of 2026, against Japan and Singapore.
However, his decision to report for international duty led to criticism in the Catalan media, particularly because of fears he could suffer another injury during the break. One commentator described his departure as a “robbery” and called for him to be stripped of the captaincy. Journalist David Sanchez also questioned the value of selecting him for a third time given his physical condition and the potential risks involved.
Barcelona’s concerns have been heightened by the journey involved. Raphinha is expected to travel about 22,000 kilometres in total with Brazil, raising fears that he could return injured after experiencing physical problems in recent weeks.
The club has contacted the Brazilian Football Confederation to discuss how many minutes the winger should play and to try to limit the strain caused by matches and travel.
Rodrigo Caetano, Brazil’s national teams co-ordinator, said the coaching staff were monitoring the players’ fitness in cooperation with their clubs.
“We have reports from the clubs, and we have covered the entire training period. We believe Ancelotti and his coaching staff are already monitoring all the players’ minutes, as well as the fatigue and tiredness they are exposed to. He only stressed that this process must continue to maintain the best possible physical condition. For us, what matters is what we know about the player and our confidence in him. His commitment to the national team is extremely high,” he said.
Raphinha is expected to retain Brazil’s captaincy for the two friendlies in the absence of Marquinhos, although the coaching staff are considering changes to the captains and a rotation system.
Brazil face Japan on 14 November 2026 and Singapore on 17 November 2026.
