Lucas Paqueta has been ruled out of Brazil's World Cup last-16 match against Norway on Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury in the dramatic 2-1 victory over Japan. The 28-year-old midfielder pulled up in the first half in Houston and was replaced at the interval by Endrick. A source within the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed to AFP that Paqueta will not recover in time for the knockout tie, and his participation in the remainder of the tournament is in serious doubt. He is not expected to play again unless Brazil advance to the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.

The injury forces coach Carlo Ancelotti into a significant tactical rethink. Paqueta had established himself as a key component of a midfield trio alongside Casemiro and Bruno Guimarães, operating as the left-sided point of a triangle that shifted into a 4-4-2 defensive shape. Brazilian outlets report that Ancelotti is weighing two primary options: a direct replacement in the form of Danilo Santos, a left-footed box-to-box midfielder who made his international debut in March, or a more attacking adjustment that would see Endrick or Gabriel Martinelli introduced to exploit a Norwegian defence that has conceded eight goals in four matches. The Italian experimented with the latter approach in the second half against Japan, pushing Matheus Cunha deeper after Endrick’s introduction.

While the CBF has not issued an official recovery timeline, Brazilian media, citing medical sources, describe the injury as a grade-two strain—a partial muscle tear—with an optimistic recovery window of two to three weeks. More typical estimates range from three to six weeks, effectively ending his World Cup. Paqueta is undergoing intensive treatment, including twice-daily physiotherapy and the use of a LED therapy boot to accelerate healing. His family has joined him in the United States, a move the national team staff hope will ease the psychological burden. The injury has also alarmed his club, Flamengo, who invested heavily in the player and face a tight Brasileirão title race; the club returns to domestic action on 22 July and fears an extended absence.

Raphinha, sidelined with a thigh injury since the group stage, has resumed individual training and could be available from the bench, offering Ancelotti another wide option. Brazil trained on Thursday in Morristown, New Jersey, in temperatures reaching 36°C, as they prepare for a Norway side spearheaded by Erling Haaland. The winner will advance to a quarter-final, and for Brazil, the immediate task is to navigate a knockout match without a player who had become central to their balance. Ancelotti’s choice between continuity and a bolder attacking setup will shape a contest that now carries an added layer of uncertainty.