Barcelona vs. Real Madrid rivalry aside: How Raphinha ensured Vinicius doesn’t miss crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifiers clash against Argentina amid Neymar’s absence

The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of the fiercest in soccer, a battle that extends beyond club level and into national team camps. Yet, during Brazil’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Colombia in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, an unexpected moment saw two players from opposing sides of El Clasico—Raphinha and Vinicius Junior—momentarily put aside their club loyalties.

With Neymar already out due to injury, Brazil could ill afford to lose another key player ahead of their crucial match against Argentina. And it was Raphinha, a Barcelona star, who made sure that wouldn’t happen.

The match at Estadio Mane Garrincha in Brasilia was pivotal for both Brazil and Colombia, with both sides desperate to return to winning ways after disappointing results in previous qualifiers. Brazil struck first when Vinicius was fouled in the box, winning an early penalty. The Barca ace, displaying calm under pressure, converted the spot-kick in the sixth minute to give the Seleção the lead.

Despite the home side’s early dominance, Colombia refused to back down. Just before halftime, Luis Diaz fired a low shot into the bottom corner, leveling the match and leaving the home fans in frustration. With both teams searching for a winner in the second half, the game seemed destined for a draw. But deep into stoppage time, in the 99th minute, the Real Madrid star struck from outside the box. His shot took a fortunate deflection and found the back of the net, sending Brazil into celebration mode.

Raphinha takes matters into his hands after Vinicius’ controversial time-wasting

With Brazil holding onto their narrow lead, head coach Dorival Junior decided to substitute Vinicius Junior in the 100th minute—a classic time-wasting tactic to see out the match. However, instead of walking off through the nearest touchline, the Ballon d’Or runner-up took his time, strolling across the entire width of the pitch. This deliberate delay frustrated the Colombian players, who surrounded the referee in protest.

Sensing that the 24-year-old’s antics could land him in trouble, Raphinha quickly stepped in. The Barcelona forward physically pushed Vinicius away from the referee, urging him to exit the field before things escalated. Matheus Cunha also backed Raphinha’s stance, reinforcing the need to keep their teammate out of disciplinary trouble.

At that moment, Barcelona’s forward was not thinking as a Blaugrana player, nor as a rival of Vinicius at club level—he was acting as a leader for Brazil. He understood that a yellow card for time-wasting would mean suspension, making Vinicius unavailable for the massive Argentina clash on March 25 at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Vinicius acknowledges Raphinha’s help as key players stay available

After the game, Vinicius admitted that Raphinha’s intervention was in his best interest. “Yes, I was warned, it’s just that in the qualifying matches it’s always complicated, it’s just two cards. One makes a foul and is already warned, and I couldn’t miss the next match,” he explained to Movistar+.

Brazilian fans praised Raphinha for his maturity, with many noting that his actions ensured Vinicius would be available for the Argentina game. The match against the current World Cup and Copa America champions is crucial as Brazil aims to close the gap in the CONMEBOL standings. They currently sit in second place, but Argentina leads the group by four points. Given the absence of Neymar, losing Vinicius for such a massive encounter would have been a major blow.

Raphinha himself was at risk of suspension but managed to avoid a yellow card as well. While Barcelona fans might have wished otherwise, given that the 28-year-old is expected to be fatigued before their game against Osasuna, Brazil fans will be relieved that their key attacking duo will be available for their toughest challenge yet.