Amidst an unconventional January international break, Leeds United have just one first-team player on duty with their country this month.
Unlike other Premier League teams who have players at the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, representatives participating in AFC World Cup qualifying across Asia and CONMEBOL's South American World Cup qualification cycle, Leeds' only international concern is Raphinha.
Granted, that is a sizeable concern given the Brazilian's importance to Leeds' affairs this season, but the wide forward has returned largely unscathed from each of his previous trips with O Seleção on the American subcontinent so far this season.
Prior to this miniature international break, Raphinha was most recently involved for Brazil in a World Cup qualifying fixture against arch-rivals Argentina - a game in which the Leeds winger required medical attention for a Nicolas Otamendi elbow to the jaw.
Besides a superficial injury, Raphinha was perfectly fine, but it was reflective of the drama - and at times, chaos - that can envelop South American World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Thursday evening's offering between Ecuador and Brazil was hosted in the Ecuadorean capital city of Quito, tucked away in the Andean mountain range, some 9,000 feet above sea level.
Considering Britain's highest point - Ben Nevis' peak - is situated approximately 4,400 feet above sea level, for Raphinha to be competing at twice this altitude was of particular note.
However, the Leeds winger came through undisturbed. Arguably, Marcelo Bielsa's training techniques and murderball sessions had prepared the 25-year-old better than any of his compatriots given the levels of exertion required to perform at a normal standard at such heights.
Thirty minutes into the encounter in Quito, Brazil had been reduced to nine men, while Ecuador had seen their goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez sent off.
Tottenham Hotspur's Emerson Royal picked up two cautions within the opening 20 minutes before Liverpool's Alisson was shown a straight red card shortly before the half hour mark.
Ultimately, Alisson's red card was rescinded and play carried on with Brazil holding a slender one-goal lead.
As the hour mark passed, Raphinha was substituted by Brazil coach Tite, spared from further gruelling activity at such elevation.
However, the drama was far from over as into stoppage time at the end of the second half, Brazil 'keeper Alisson was dismissed for a second time in the game, only to see his red card rescinded once again.
Following a lengthy VAR review, Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan rescinded his second booking for the Liverpool stopper and cancelled out the added time penalty he had awarded hosts Ecuador.
The game ultimately finished 1-1 with Brazil already qualified for the World Cup finals in Qatar later this year.
Raphinha's next international outing will take place in the Belo Horizonte, Brazil as O Seleção take on Paraguay in their latest World Cup qualifier.
With the inland Brazilian city less than a kilometre above sea level, Estadio Mineirao will represent more palatable conditions for the Leeds United winger and his teammates before he returns to Elland Road.
