Brazil F/MF Raphinha has been officially ruled out of Brazil's final World Cup group stage match against Scotland at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday evening at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
The Barcelona superstar was forced to exit Brazil’s win last Friday with what is being described as a “muscle injury in his right thigh.” The 29-year-old had been dealing with a hamstring issue at the end of the last club season, meaning this could be a reaggravation.
Fortunately for La Seleção, Neymar is said to be 100% fit and ready to make his 2026 World Cup debut after missing the first two matches due to a calf injury. Neymar, like Raphinha, is versatile and can slot into any of the attacking positions manager Carlo Ancelotti will need.
Below, we'll break down the latest Raphinha injury update for Wednesday, how long Raphinha will be out, and what World Cup picks to potentially target on PrizePicks with Raphinha out.
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Raphinha Injury Update: Is Raphinha Playing Today vs. Scotland?
Raphinha reaggravated a hamstring injury during Brazil’s Matchday 2 win against Haiti on June 19. The timetable for return is up in the air, but Raphinha still may return should Brazil avoid an early elimination.
Many speculated that Raphinha would be leaving the camp to seek treatment outside the United States. However, according to a recent Instagram post, it looks like the 29-year-old will remain with the team as he rehabs his injury and looks to play again before this one’s over.
The Round of 16 could be the next time we see Raphinha based on the recovery timetable for his injury. Luckily for Ancelotti and La Seleção, there are no shortage of attacking players that can substitute on in his place. The 19-year-old Rayan made his World Cup debut subbing on for the injured Raphinha last Friday and could see more minutes going forward following a solid cameo.
Even without Raphinha, Brazil remains the overwhelming favorite for Wednesday's match against Scotland. PrizePicks Team Picks has Brazil at a 83% implied win probability, with a 1.28x payout if they win.
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How Long is Raphinha Out?
ESPN Brasil are reporting that the current aim for Raphinha’s return is the Round of 16, but that a quarterfinal comeback may be more realistic.
This isn’t the first time Raphinha has aggravated this hamstring, as the Barcelona attacker was out for over a month back in March from the same injury. In fact, according to Transfer Markt, this is the fourth hamstring injury Raphinha has suffered since late 2025.
We should be able to better gauge when he will return to the pitch once he’s returns to on-field training.
What Brazil Players to Target for PrizePicks with Raphinha Out?
Even without Raphinha, Brazil boasts a dangerous attack, led by Vinícius Jr. and now, Neymar, who is expected to debut at World Cup 2026 later today. With Brazil needing to secure all three points for a chance at winning Group C, Ancelotti is expected to introduce changes to his starting XI on Wednesday.
Matheus Cunha is expected to start up front after scoring 2 miraculous goals in his first World Cup start against Haiti. Neymar could play as a false 9, but with Cunha playing well, he may slot into the CAM position that Raphinha occupied at the start of last game.
Here are Brazil’s players who may benefit most statistically on PrizePicks with Raphinha out vs. Scotland today, plus their World Cup stat projections for Wednesday.
- F Neymar — 0.5 Shots on Target (Goblin) / 1.5 Shots (Goblin) / 0.5 Goals (Demon)
- F Vinicius Jr. — 1.5 Shots (World Cup Discount) / 0.5 Shots on Target (Goblin) / 0.5 Goals (Demon)
- F Matheus Cunha — 0.5 Goals (Demon) / 1.5 Shots (Goblin) / 0.5 Shots on Target (Goblin)
Neymar is the most likely beneficiary of Raphinha's absence, with Brazil’s all-time leading scorer returning from injury at the perfect moment. Ancelotti has not confirmed whether Neymar will start, but he has said the 34-year-old is 100% fit and could play a full 90 minutes if needed.
Rayan could also be in contention to start in Raphinha’s place. However, with this match meaning so much to the group’s standings, the teenager may come on as a substitute once again with Ancelotti siding with Neymar's experience.
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Raphinha is out, Neymar could be set to start, and Brazil’s third World Cup match is just hours away.
Filling Raphinha's shoes won't be easy, but Brazil will have to manage without him over the next few weeks and possibly for the remainder of the tournament.
Don't wait until lock — make your Brazil vs. Scotland picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you're right.
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