Raphinha adds fuel to Argentina-Brazil rivalry with controversial statement

Argentina will host Brazil at the Monumental Stadium in what promises to be a high-stakes match for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Beyond the football, Brazilian forward Raphinha's comments have heated up the atmosphere ahead of this latest edition of the rivalry between two of the most prominent national teams in men's football.

In an interview with Romário TV, the Barcelona forward was direct when discussing the South American derby: "We're going to give them a beating, no doubt about it. We'll beat them on the field and off the field if necessary," said the current top scorer of the South American qualifiers. With that level of confidence, Raphinha made his stance clear ahead of the match in Buenos Aires.

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We're going to beat them badly!, Raphinha said

When the host of the show, legendary former footballer Romario, asked Raphinha if he planned to score a goal against Lionel Scaloni’s team, the forward didn’t hesitate: "I will." But that wasn’t all. In a similarly controversial exchange, Romario, who referred to the Argentinians as “bastards,” added, “In Argentina, you have to hit them, it hurts,” to which Raphinha responded, “Let them suffer.”

Raphinha, who has been in excellent form at Barcelona, has had a standout season. However, he has yet to score in the continental classic. Regarding this personal challenge, Raphinha stated, "I’m going to score against Argentina. I’ll do everything I can, let them suffer.”

Raphinha's numbers in Barcelona

With 31 goals and 19 assists across 47 matches this year for both his club and national team, the forward’s words reflect the confidence his impressive performances have given him. In the same interview, he also touched on his Ballon d'Or race: "Honestly, it's not a personal goal," he said about his nomination for the prestigious award. "My goals are to score goals, provide assists, and win titles with Barcelona and the national team," he added.

However, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the footballer. Raphinha admitted he went through uncertain moments, especially during the past season: "I was thinking of leaving Barcelona after the Copa América because I wasn’t comfortable mentally. It was a very turbulent time. Every day there were rumors about me going to one team or another," he confessed.

His decision to stay at the Catalan club was influenced by coach Flick’s persistence, who convinced him not to rush into a decision. "Flick called me and asked me to come to training before making a decision, because he counted on me. I talked to my wife and told her, 'If this guy is fair and sees the effort in training, I’ll make him love me in a week.'"

Regarding his competitive nature, Raphinha acknowledged a character trait that defines him both on and off the field: "I’m someone who hates losing. I don’t like losing, not in football, not in video games, not at home. It’s just a bad feeling I have, and that’s what’s gotten me to where I am: the desire to develop, the desire to win," he explained.