Barcelona superstar Raphinha ruled out of Brazil's Round of 16 showdown vs Norway

Barcelona superstar Raphinha has been ruled out of Brazil’s World Cup Round of 16 against Norway after medical assessments concluded he is not recovered enough from a muscle issue. Reports cited by Mundo Deportivo say the winger cannot train at the same intensity as the rest of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Brazil’s camp also indicated he is working individually to regain full fitness ahead of the later stages of the tournament. Raphinha first picked up the problem during Brazil’s second World Cup match versus Haiti, when he felt discomfort in the back of his right thigh and had to leave before halftime. He has since missed Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland and the 2-1 Round of 32 victory against Japan. With assessments ending hopes for Norway, Brazil’s medical team remains cautious, while Barcelona monitors his progress and communication continues.