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Brazilian star Vinicius Jr. has expressed his support for Barcelona winger Raphinha after the latter sustained a concerning injury during Brazil’s World Cup victory over Haiti.

The incident has caused unease both in the Brazilian national team camp and at Barcelona, with club officials eagerly awaiting the results of medical tests.

Given Raphinha’s crucial contribution to both his club and the national side, any extended absence could prove to be a major setback.

Although the full extent of the injury is yet to be determined, the early signs were troubling enough for the winger to be substituted before half-time.

Before the unfortunate moment, Raphinha appeared poised for another impressive performance in the Brazilian jersey.

The Barcelona forward had begun the match in fine form and thought he had opened the scoring, only for his goal to be disallowed for a narrow offside call.

He continued to make his presence felt, attempting a clever chipped shot that beat the goalkeeper but missed the target by a whisker.

Brazil were firmly in control of the game when Raphinha suddenly required medical attention on the pitch.

After a short discussion with the medical team, it became clear that his night was over.

Rayan came on to replace the Barcelona star, whose expression suggested he sensed something was amiss.

The initial belief is that the injury is muscular, though official confirmation has not yet been released.

The setback has not only alarmed Barcelona fans but has also worried Raphinha’s teammates within the Brazilian squad.

Speaking after the match, Vinicius Jr. shared his concern for his compatriot and emphasised how integral Raphinha has become for the national team.

“Getting injured is always a complicated matter, isn’t it? Especially for him, who is a very important player for us,” Vinicius remarked.

He also noted that Raphinha has already endured a challenging season marred by recurring fitness problems.

“He has suffered a lot from injuries this season. We hope it’s not serious and that he can continue with us until the end of the World Cup,” he added.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) later released a statement confirming that Raphinha has indeed suffered a muscle injury, though further details regarding recovery time are expected to follow.