The World Cup represents an extraordinary occasion in sports, with players temporarily abandoning their club identities to unite under their national flags for the collective aim of success. The tournament’s expansion to 48 teams allows more athletes to partake, yet the enduring pressure remains for the storied nations, particularly Brazil. Once the most decorated country in World Cup history, Brazil has not treasured the trophy since 2002, a reality recognized by Raphinha of Barcelona.
With Carlo Ancelotti stepping in as head coach, Raphinha and his teammates are gearing up for a tournament filled with expectations as they share Group C with Scotland, Haiti, and Morocco. Raphinha emphasized the pride in having Ancelotti at the helm, noting his impressive track record and admirable character.
“We had four trainers during all this time, and each one of them had a different philosophy. Now with Ancelotti, we are very proud to have him because he has a lot of wins, and also because he’s a very admirable person, so we are happy with him,” Raphinha shared with CBS Sports.
Despite this being Ancelotti’s debut as an international manager, he is no stranger to the spotlight, having managed leading teams across various leagues globally. Raphinha himself is regarded as a top player, frequently in the conversation for the Ballon d’Or. For him, family plays a pivotal role in his motivation.
“My biggest motivation is my eldest son, and I’m always looking for him during [games] and also trying to obtain the best result with FC Barcelona and my national team. Yeah, but always keeping him in mind. I want to play a long time with FC Barcelona and my national team until I’m older, but yeah, that is my biggest motivation,” Raphinha explained.
Raphinha’s connection to family stems deeply from his past struggles, including times of extreme poverty and violence during his youth. His journey has taken him across continents, from Brazil to Portugal, France, England, and now Spain, highlighting the significance of family in his life, particularly as he partners with Modelo for a campaign that resonates with his values.
“I was very interested to have this partnership with Modelo because of the meaning of this campaign related to family and friends, because this has always been very important for me in my life, to have good moments with family and friends,” Raphinha stated.
As soccer’s global appeal intensifies, viewing parties with friends and family during the World Cup will be essential, especially with rising costs for stadium access. Brazil’s squad looks strong to progress beyond the group stages, though injuries have cast a shadow, particularly Rodrygo’s significant absence due to a serious knee injury.
“Injuries are part of playing soccer. I’m very sad because of Rodrygo’s injury, it’s a very complicated injury, but we are making our best effort to recover from them, myself also. Sometimes our bodies need rest, and maybe this injury recovery is the best opportunity to have that rest,” Raphinha noted, acknowledging the challenges while remaining optimistic.
Even with setbacks, Raphinha’s focus remains unwavering as the World Cup approaches, uniting with Vinicius Junior and other stars to aim for Brazil’s first title in over two decades, providing his family with even more reasons to celebrate.
