Raphinha’s Barcelona and Brazil travel schedule takes him nearly twice around the world

Raphinha will have travelled 76,761 kilometres in 98 days by the time he completes Barcelona’s trip to La Coruna later this month – almost twice the distance around the Earth.

The Barcelona forward is currently in Singapore with Brazil for two friendly matches. Five days after returning, he is due to fly with his club to Azerbaijan for a Champions League fixture before travelling on to La Coruna, where he will make his first appearance at Riazor against Deportivo La Coruna on 29 November.

The figures, reported by Mundo Deportivo, show that Raphinha has covered almost two trips around the globe since Barcelona began their La Liga campaign against Elche on 23 August. The shortest possible distance around the Earth along the equator is 40,075 kilometres.

His travel has also raised concerns over the physical demands placed on the 28-year-old. Raphinha suffered three muscle injuries during his last three appearances for Brazil, prompting an agreement with manager Carlo Ancelotti to manage the number of minutes he plays.

At the end of September, after travelling 18,350 kilometres and playing two friendlies in Australia, Raphinha developed muscle oedema in his right thigh. He was out for two weeks before returning against Real Betis.

He later played only an hour against Paris Saint-Germain, having avoided a 4,468-kilometre journey the previous week for Brazil’s match against Galatasaray in Istanbul.

Despite the demanding schedule, Raphinha has scored 19 goals for Barcelona this season. His next journeys will add 7,916 kilometres between Barcelona and Baku, followed by another 2,170 kilometres to La Coruna.

Raphinha’s recorded journeys

His travel for Barcelona matches includes: Barcelona to Elche and back on 23 August, 530 kilometres each way; Barcelona to Valencia and back on 5 and 6 September, 348 kilometres each way; Barcelona to Valencia and back on 12 and 13 September, 348 kilometres each way; and Barcelona to Seville and back on 19 September, 993 kilometres each way.

He then travelled from Barcelona to Townsville on 21 September, covering 15,873 kilometres, before flying to Melbourne on 26 September for 2,477 kilometres and returning to Barcelona on 30 September after a 16,827-kilometre flight.

Further journeys included Barcelona-Seville and back on 16 and 18 October, at 993 kilometres each way; Barcelona-Paris and back on 19 and 20 October, at 1,038 kilometres each way; and Barcelona-Madrid and back on 8 November, at 626 kilometres each way.

Brazil duty involved Barcelona-Singapore on 11 November and the return journey on 18 November, both covering 10,873 kilometres. His upcoming Barcelona trips are Barcelona-Baku on 23 November and back on 25 November, at 3,958 kilometres each way, followed by Barcelona-La Coruna and back on 28 and 29 November, at 1,085 kilometres each way.

In total, his Barcelona travel amounts to 19,838 kilometres, while his journeys with Brazil account for 53,923 kilometres.