The Brazilian press targets Raphinha after Argentina's crushing blow

Following Brazil’s crushing defeat to Argentina, Raphinha became the target of intense criticism from several prominent Brazilian media outlets. The 2025 World Cup qualifier match ended with a humiliating 3-0 victory for Argentina, and Raphinha, who has been a regular in Brazil’s attack and a standout at Barcelona, was widely blamed for his underwhelming performance. Despite his high-profile status, the winger's display was far from the level expected from a player of his calibre.

The aftermath of Brazil's defeat saw major Brazilian media outlets pour scorn on Raphinha, highlighting how little he contributed on the pitch. While much of the criticism targeted the entire Brazilian team, Raphinha's poor showing stood out, with some calling it an embarrassment. Let’s break down the critiques from the most significant Brazilian outlets and assess how the media reacted to his disappointing performance.

cnn brasil: a mild criticism for raphinha’s ‘discreet’ performance

CNN Brasil was one of the few media outlets that took a more reserved approach in their analysis of Raphinha's performance. Describing his performance as “discreet” and “unremarkable”, CNN Brasil focused more on his interactions with Argentina’s Nicolás Tagliafico during the match than his actual contribution on the field. According to CNN Brasil’s report, Raphinha’s involvement in the game was minimal, noting that the winger “didn’t participate well in the match” overall.

Despite the match being an utter disaster for Brazil, CNN Brasil was relatively gentle in their analysis of Raphinha, opting to focus on his personal disputes with the Argentina defender rather than his technical deficiencies. However, the criticism was still clear: Raphinha’s lack of involvement in key moments did not escape scrutiny, and his performance was deemed to be subpar.

globo: a damning rating and public disappointment

As Brazil’s most influential media outlet, Globo was much harsher in their evaluation of Raphinha’s performance. The newspaper gave him a meagre 4.5 rating for his display, a score that reflects the widespread disappointment with the Barcelona winger. To make matters worse, Globo's readers gave Raphinha an even worse score of just 1.6, an indication of the fans’ frustration with his performance.

The analysis provided by Globo was scathing and reinforced the narrative of Raphinha’s ineffective display. Describing him as a player who “appeared more in the arguments than with the ball at his feet”, Globo highlighted his lack of influence on the pitch. The winger, who had been expected to play a crucial role in Brazil's attacking game, was instead caught up in pointless altercations with Argentina’s Tagliafico, and this did nothing to improve his standing in the eyes of Brazilian fans or the media.

zerohora: direct criticism of raphinha’s attitude and performance

ZeroHora, another respected Brazilian outlet, took the criticism a step further by directly calling out Raphinha for his lack of effort during the match. The portal remarked that Raphinha “talked a lot and played very little”, which was seen as a direct attack on his attitude and contribution to the team. The outlet compared his disappointing performance to his recent performances for Barcelona and the Brazilian national team, noting that he was “nowhere near the level of his recent displays”.

ZeroHora’s criticism was focused not only on Raphinha’s lack of impact on the ball but also on his apparent lack of focus during the match. In a high-stakes match, Raphinha’s failure to rise to the occasion, both in terms of his game and his professionalism, was seen as a serious flaw.

uol: a missed opportunity and unmet expectations

UOL, another leading Brazilian news outlet, was quick to highlight the disappointment surrounding Raphinha’s performance. The portal suggested that Raphinha had generated great expectations before the match, especially following his interview with legendary Brazilian forward Romário. However, UOL made it clear that Raphinha “did not live up to the hype”. The outlet noted that Raphinha was “more involved in the confusion than with the ball” and that his performance was lacking in both quality and focus.

For UOL, Raphinha’s underperformance was particularly disappointing given his recent success at Barcelona, where he had been playing an important role in the team’s attacking setup. The media outlet’s expectation for him to shine in a crucial match for Brazil was dashed, and they expressed their frustration with his inability to step up when needed most.

brazilian fans join in the criticism

Raphinha’s critics weren’t limited to the press. Brazilian fans, many of whom had high expectations for the winger, took to social media to express their disappointment. With Raphinha failing to make an impact against Argentina, and his performance falling far below the level expected of him, it’s no surprise that many fans shared their frustration. The 3-0 loss to Argentina only added fuel to the fire, and Raphinha’s performance became a focal point for much of the backlash.

Fans were particularly upset by his lack of involvement in the game and the way he seemed to get caught up in trivial disputes with the opposition. For many, it felt as though Raphinha was more focused on personal confrontations than on helping Brazil recover from the setback on the scoreboard. His failure to contribute positively on the field only amplified the sense of frustration surrounding the result.

the bigger picture: can raphinha bounce back?

While Raphinha’s performance against Argentina may have been a low point, it’s important to remember that he is still a talented player with plenty of potential. His performances for Barcelona have shown that he is capable of being a key player at the top level. However, his performance in Brazil's 3-0 loss to Argentina will likely linger in the minds of both the media and the fans, and he will need to work hard to regain their trust.

The criticism from Brazil’s top media outlets, including Globo, UOL, ZeroHora, and CNN Brasil, paints a picture of a player who failed to meet expectations in a crucial match. Whether or not Raphinha can use this criticism as motivation to improve his performances for Brazil remains to be seen. What is clear is that, for now, he will have to weather the storm of media backlash and prove that he can deliver when it matters most.