In a night of celebration for Brazilian football, Raphinha emerged as one of the stars in Brazil's 1-0 victory over Paraguay, thus securing his qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The FC Barcelona player once again showcased his quality and commitment on the field, being instrumental in the play that led to Vinicius Jr.'s goal.
The match, held at the Defensores del Chaco stadium, saw Raphinha as a constant threat. With a total of 2 shots on target from 3 attempts and an impressive passing accuracy of 33 out of 37 (89%), the azulgrana winger made it clear that he is in great form. Additionally, his defensive work did not go unnoticed, with 7 defensive actions and 6 recoveries throughout the 90 minutes.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti did not hold back in praising the player after the match, highlighting his combination of quality and physical effort. "Raphinha combines quality with extraordinary physical work. He is a spectacular player," the Italian coach stated, who deployed him as a right winger in an offensive system that displayed great mobility.
With this victory, Brazil becomes the thirteenth team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The Brazilian national team, which has participated in every edition of the tournament since its inception in 1930, remains the all-time winner with five titles to its name.
Raphinha, who already had his first World Cup experience in Qatar 2022, is now preparing for his second participation. In that tournament, the winger did not manage to score or assist, but this season has been one of his best, accumulating 57 direct contributions (34 goals and 23 assists) with Barça, keeping him as a strong candidate for the upcoming Ballon d'Or.
Looking ahead to the next season, Raphinha is expected to continue being a key piece in FC Barcelona's scheme, where he is set to be the starting playmaker, awaiting the arrival of a new left winger. Luis Díaz is the name that is currently favored to strengthen the culé attack.
With qualification secured and a month of rest ahead, Raphinha and his Barça teammates will return to work on July 13, ready to face a new season full of challenges and expectations.