Ancelotti Won’t Rest Raphinha Against Australia

After playing the entire first friendly against Australia, the Barcelona forward remains firmly in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for the second meeting in Brisbane, a decision that adds to the workload of a player whose minutes were already being closely monitored back in Catalonia.

Raphinha Remains Untouchable for Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti is preparing to make significant changes to his team for the second meeting with Australia on September 29, but there is one name that does not appear to be part of the rotation: Raphinha.

During Sunday’s training session in Brisbane, the head coach tested the Barcelona attacker as a false nine, with Rayan and Vinícius Júnior alongside him in the front line. Bruno Guimarães, Danilo and Gabriel Bontempo featured in midfield.

The move is particularly significant because Raphinha already played the entire first match of this two-game series.

In Townsville, Ancelotti started Estêvão, Endrick, Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha in attack. While the coach substituted his other forwards during the second half, the Barcelona player remained on the field until the final whistle.

Everything now points toward another significant workload for him in Brisbane.

From Playing Behind Endrick to Becoming Brazil’s No. 9

There is also a tactical explanation behind Ancelotti’s decision.

Raphinha is enjoying an extraordinary start to the season with Barcelona, where his ability to operate in more central positions has boosted his attacking production. The Catalan club itself highlighted that he has scored 14 goals in his first eight matches of the season and that his performances as a center forward produced the best goalscoring start by a Barcelona player after eight games.

Ancelotti appears ready to explore that same version of Raphinha with Brazil.

In the first match against the Socceroos, Raphinha was given the freedom to drop deeper and contribute to the buildup behind Endrick. The Brazilian struggled to find space for much of the match but still ended up making the difference.

With Brazil seconds away from defeat, Raphinha delivered the ball that eventually resulted in Rayan’s header for the 1-1 equalizer. The CBF confirmed that the goal came in the 94th minute after Nestory Irankunda had given Australia the lead in the second half.

In Brisbane, the plan could be different: use Raphinha directly as the central attacking reference and capitalize on the outstanding goalscoring form he has shown with Barcelona.

Africa Cup of Nations Qualification

Who is Malick Yalcouyé?

Barcelona Is Once Again Watching His Minutes

That is where a situation that had already drawn attention at Barcelona before this international window comes back into focus.

Raphinha joined the national team after establishing himself as one of the most important players in the Catalan side. In addition to his attacking production, there is the physical toll of a tour that includes two matches against Australia followed by a trip to India for a friendly on October 3. The CBF confirmed that the second meeting with the Socceroos will take place on Tuesday, September 29, at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane before the squad travels to Kolkata.

The physical context cannot be ignored either. The Brazilian has already dealt with muscular problems during 2026, including one suffered during the FIFA World Cup, making the accumulation of minutes an especially sensitive issue for Barcelona.

For Ancelotti, however, the forward’s current form appears to carry more weight than the possibility of giving him a rest.

Ancelotti Changes Almost Everything Except Raphinha

The draw in Townsville did not leave the coach satisfied either.

Following the 1-1 result, Ancelotti acknowledged that this tour is part of a period of experimentation and indicated that the second match would provide another opportunity to test different options. Brazil struggled to create chances for long stretches and needed Rayan’s late goal to avoid defeat.

Sunday’s training session confirmed that intention.

Otávio, Vanderson, Jair, Gabriel Magalhães, Mauro Júnior and Gabriel Bontempo were among the new names tested for the second friendly. Rayan also appeared in the starting lineup after beginning the Townsville match on the bench.

But amid all those changes, Raphinha remains.

The player who arrived in Australia after scoring 14 goals in eight matches for Barcelona played the entire first game and could now change positions without leaving the starting lineup.

For Ancelotti, finding the best role for one of his most productive players appears to be a priority. For Barcelona, every additional minute means adding to a workload the club was already monitoring closely.

Raphinha played the entire 1-1 draw between Brazil and Australia in Townsville and was involved in the buildup to Rayan’s equalizer.
Carlo Ancelotti tested several changes for the second friendly but kept the Barcelona player in the lineup, this time as a false nine.
Brazil will face Australia again on September 29 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane before traveling to India for its third friendly.