At the Granja Comary Training Center in Teresópolis, the Brazil national team is preparing for Tuesday’s away FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Bolivia. Carlo Ancelotti tested a new lineup in training: in the attacking third, he experimented with Richarlison as the center-forward, supported by Estêvão, Gabriel Martinelli, and Raphinha behind him. All three players started in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Chile at the Maracanã Stadium last week.
However, Barça fans’ dissatisfaction stems from the fact that Raphinha has not been given a rest during the international break, while Real Madrid’s trio—Vinícius Júnior (who has served his suspension), Rodrygo, and Éder Militão—have all remained in Madrid.
According to the current arrangement, Raphinha is highly likely to continue starting and play the full 90 minutes in the match against Bolivia. This means he will not only have to endure long-distance travel and a congested fixture schedule but also face the extreme match environment in La Paz, which sits at an altitude of 4,100 meters. Considering that Brazil has already secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in advance and ranks firmly in second place in the South American qualifying standings (with 28 points, 10 points behind leaders Argentina), Raphinha’s continuous exertion has become a particular concern for Barcelona.
