Official: Barcelona captain called up for Brazil World Cup squad | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti has officially confirmed Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and as expected, Raphinha has secured his place in the final list after another strong season with Barcelona.

The Brazilian winger will now prepare for his second World Cup appearance of his career after previously representing his country during the 2022 tournament in Qatar shortly after arriving at Barcelona.

Back then, Brazil entered the competition as one of the favourites but were eliminated by Croatia at the quarter-final stage. 

This time, however, expectations around Brazil feel even higher under Ancelotti, who is preparing the national side to challenge seriously for the biggest trophy in international football.

Brazil have been placed in Group C alongside Morocco, Scotland and Haiti, as they begin their road towards another World Cup title.

Raphinha rewarded

Despite dealing with recurring physical issues throughout the campaign, Raphinha still managed to produce impressive numbers for Barcelona under Hansi Flick.

The Brazilian, so far in the 2025/26 season with one more match to play, has scored 21 goals and eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.

His performances also played an important role in helping Barcelona secure both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup, adding more silverware to an already successful period at the club.

Following the squad announcement, Ancelotti admitted selecting the final 26 players had been extremely difficult because of the incredible level of competition available within Brazilian football.

“It was very difficult to choose the 26 players because the competition in this country is so high. 

“Some players who were with us will not be on the list. I am very sorry, and I want to thank them for their effort.”

Raphinha will appear at his second World Cup. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

For Raphinha, though, there was never much doubt surrounding his inclusion, as even during difficult periods this season, his impact remained impossible to ignore.

Adding more credibility

At Barcelona, Raphinha has now evolved from a questioned signing into one of the team’s most reliable attacking players. 

However, performing on the World Cup stage offers an entirely different level of recognition globally.

The winger enters the competition at a mature stage of his career, carrying more experience, confidence and responsibility compared to 2022. 

Back then, he was still adapting to life at Barcelona and trying to establish himself consistently at the top level, but now, he arrives as one of Brazil’s main attacking threats.