Barcelona player Raphinha reaches milestone amid injury concerns

Barcelona forward Raphinha has reached 186 appearances for the Spanish club, equaling the number of matches played by fellow Brazilian Neymar. The 29-year-old, who joined from Leeds United in 2022, has scored 89 goals for the team and currently leads the La Liga scoring charts with 12 goals.

Following his recent appearance as a substitute against Real Betis, Raphinha is working toward matching Adriano’s record of 190 appearances. He also holds the distinction of being the first Brazilian player to serve as Barcelona captain for the 2026-2027 season.

Despite his statistical success, the player is currently managing a right thigh injury sustained during international duty with Brazil in Australia. Reports indicate that Raphinha has also struggled with insomnia and circadian rhythm disruptions caused by long-distance travel. To mitigate these risks, Barcelona’s coaching staff, led by Hansi Flick, has utilized sleep specialist Anna West to implement recovery and relaxation techniques for the squad.