Marcos Antônio goes off in first half, another Reffis headache | OneFootball

São Paulo raised the alarm after losing Marcos Antônio in the first half of the 2-0 win over O’Higgins at Morumbi on Tuesday (14) in the Copa Sudamericana.

The midfielder, who had been the team’s main playmaker, felt pain in his right thigh in the 35th minute, shortly after leading a fast counterattack and attempting a pass to Artur.

The impact of his absence was immediate, as he had been the standout player on the pitch up to that point, having delivered the precise pass that broke through the Chilean defense and led to Luciano’s goal just seven minutes in.

Although he tried to stay on the field, Marcos Antônio quickly asked to be substituted after realizing the severity of the discomfort, making way for Danielzinho.

The early exit worries the coaching staff for the rest of the season, since the player had been establishing himself as the engine of São Paulo’s midfield.

Now, he is expected to undergo detailed exams in the coming hours to assess the extent of the muscle injury, while the team tries to adapt tactically to the absence of its main offensive transition player.

On his way out of the locker room, Marcos Antônio passed through Morumbi’s mixed zone and tried to sound optimistic. “We’ll be back soon,” he said.

Marcos Antônio has played in 20 of São Paulo’s 22 matches this season and was on the field for 1,650 of the team’s 1,980 minutes in 2026.

It was the club’s second setback of the day. Before the match, winger Ferreirinha’s injury was confirmed, ruling him out of the game due to swelling in the back of his left thigh.

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