In a recent press conference while on international duty with Brazil, FC Barcelona star Raphinha addressed the claims made by Brazilian legend Ronaldinho and French forward Kylian Mbappe.

Ronaldinho, who is known to Raphinha as a family friend from their time in Porto Alegre, took to Instagram to announce his decision to abandon the Selecao and not watch their matches in the upcoming Copa America. Expressing his disappointment, Ronaldinho referred to the current Brazilian team as one of the worst in recent years, lacking respectable leaders and consisting mostly of average players.

During the press conference, Raphinha expressed his surprise over Ronaldinho's remarks, stating that the team viewed Ronaldinho as an idol and a reference. He mentioned that Ronaldinho had never made such negative statements to the team before, always showing his support. Raphinha disagreed with Ronaldinho's assessment, emphasizing that the current team displayed dedication, desire, and pride in wearing the Brazilian jersey.

Raphinha also revealed an interesting tidbit, stating that Vinicius Jr. had informed him that Ronaldinho had requested tickets to watch the national team play. This revelation potentially put Ronaldinho in an awkward position, as it contradicted his previous statements.

Furthermore, Raphinha addressed Mbappe's remark about the European Championship being more difficult than the World Cup. In a playful response, Raphinha reminded Mbappe that he had lost a World Cup final against a South American team, referring to France's defeat to Lionel Messi's Argentina in the Qatar 2022 final.

As Brazil gears up to reclaim the continental crown in the upcoming Copa America, they will face Costa Rica in their opening match on June 24. Raphinha's strong words defending the national team's abilities and refuting the criticisms made by Ronaldinho and Mbappe highlight the team's determination to prove their worth on the international stage.

The Brazilian team, under the guidance of coach Tite, will look to showcase their quality and merit as they strive for victory in the Copa America. With Raphinha's support and the collective drive of the squad, Brazil aims to silence the critics and reclaim their status as one of South America's football powerhouses.