Barcelona superstar Raphinha will be the standout figure in the Brazilian national team in the upcoming international break.

The Selecao manager Carlo Ancelotti released the official squad list for their games against Chile and Bolivia on Monday, and the Barcelona captain was included, whereas Real Madrid trio Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo and Eder Militao were left out.

Brazil are already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and the matches against Chile and Bolivia are largely inconsequential for the South American giants, but Ancelotti still opted to include Raphinha, despite giving the Real Madrid trio a break.

Raphinha’s message

After learning of his call-up, Raphinha took to social media to post a message for the Brazilian fans.

The Barcelona captain chose a photograph of himself listening to the national anthem of his country in an international match.

The player accompanied it with a text in which he wrote in Portuguese: “Sempre uma honra”, which translates to “Always an honour.”

Photo courtesy: Instagram

Despite already being qualified, Ancelotti has called up Raphinha, who will have to undertake a very long trip for two inconsequential matches at the very start of the season. It represents a considerable effort at a key moment of the footballing calendar.

However, with the message, the Barcelona winger made it clear that it is always a privilege to represent his country and that he is prepared for the commitments against Chile and Bolivia.

Raphinha enjoyed a dream 2024-25 season with Barcelona, and has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, along with his teammates Pedri, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski.

The former Leeds United star is set to be a central figure in Ancelotti’s Brazil setup leading to the FIFA World Cup next year.