Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has handed Barcelona forward Raphinha the responsibility of captaining the Selecao ahead of Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes for their upcoming international friendlies against Japan and Singapore.
The 29-year-old winger is expected to lead the five-time world champions when they face Japan at the Singapore National Stadium on Saturday, November 14, following the absence of regular captain Marquinhos, who has been ruled out through injury.
Ancelotti’s decision represents another recognition of Raphinha’s growing influence within the Brazilian national team, with the Barcelona attacker emerging as an increasingly important figure both on and off the pitch.
According to reports, Marquinhos sustained a muscular injury during Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League encounter against Barcelona, forcing him out of Brazil’s preparations for the Asian fixtures.
His absence left Ancelotti with several potential replacements, including Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
However, the Italian tactician opted for Raphinha, maintaining the leadership hierarchy established within the national team during previous international engagements.
Guimaraes is understood to be next in line and will take over the captaincy whenever the Barcelona forward is unavailable or substituted during the matches.
Raphinha’s appointment comes at a time when the former Leeds United attacker continues to enjoy an influential spell in Spanish football. His performances for Barcelona under Hansi Flick have strengthened his reputation as one of the club’s most important attacking players.
The Brazilian has reportedly registered 19 goals across all competitions this season, despite experiencing fitness problems that have interrupted his campaign.
His leadership qualities, experience and growing influence in the dressing room are believed to have contributed to Ancelotti’s decision to entrust him with the armband ahead of other established members of the squad.
Nevertheless, the captaincy announcement will also attract attention from Barcelona, with the Catalan club expected to monitor his involvement closely throughout Brazil’s international assignment.
Raphinha suffered a knock during the previous international break, making his workload an important consideration for both Brazil and Barcelona. Although he is expected to feature from the beginning against Japan, there are indications that Ancelotti could manage his playing time rather than allow him to complete the full 90 minutes in both fixtures.
The Brazilian delegation’s visit to Singapore is part of the country’s final international assignment for 2026, with Ancelotti looking to assess his players and strengthen the team’s preparations for future competitive challenges.
Brazil have a history of memorable performances in Singapore. During their first visit to the Asian nation in October 2014, the Selecao defeated Japan 4-0, with Neymar producing a remarkable performance by scoring all four goals.
The South Americans returned to the same venue in 2019, when they played international friendlies against Senegal and Nigeria. Both encounters ended in 1-1 draws, with Roberto Firmino and Casemiro scoring in the respective matches.
After Saturday’s meeting with Japan, Brazil will conclude their November programme against hosts Singapore on Tuesday, November 17.
Paraguay are also participating in the four-team international series, with the South American side scheduled to face Singapore before meeting Japan in the competition’s other fixtures.
For Raphinha, the opportunity to captain Brazil represents another significant milestone in his international career. With established stars such as Vinicius Junior and Bruno Guimaraes also available, his selection underlines the confidence Ancelotti has placed in the Barcelona forward’s leadership.
However, his immediate priority will be to deliver a strong performance against Japan while avoiding another injury setback before returning to Barcelona for the resumption of club football.
