Raphinha selected for Brazil double-header as links to Marcelo Bielsa persist despite Leeds United exit

Raphinha will join up with the Brazilian national team later this month after the Leeds United winger was selected in O Seleção's latest squad.

Brazil are already qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar set to take place during November and December this year, but have three qualification fixtures to fulfil, starting with Chile and Bolivia later this month.

O Seleção are currently unbeaten in 15 qualifying matches during this cycle, and will surpass Marcelo Bielsa's record boasting the best qualification record if they win both of their upcoming fixtures.

Bielsa achieved the feat whilst in charge of Argentina leading up to the 2002 FIFA World Cup. His side accrued 43 points - a CONMEBOL record - en route to the finals in South Korea and Japan.

Raphinha has again been called up by Brazil (DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP)

This time around, Brazil are on 39 points, with three matches remaining, meaning a 100 per-cent record versus Chile and Bolivia in their next two games will take them onto 45 points for this qualification cycle.

Brazil's final fixture of this cycle is a rearranged tie versus Argentina, which is yet to receive a new date after it was postponed last September.

Raphinha has been capped seven times for O Seleção, scoring three goals and picking up two assists, however the Brazilian has struggled for form of late.

Leeds' plummet towards the relegation zone has coincided with Raphinha's barren run in front of goal, with the 25-year-old having found the net just once since the turn of the year.

Despite this, Brazil head coach Tite has named the Leeds man in his latest selection alongside the likes of Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar.

Based on previous outings, it is fully expected Raphinha will feature prominently for Brazil in their next two fixtures set to take place on March 24 and March 30, despite their qualification status.

Due to the wealth of attacking options at Tite's disposal, the head coach will be expected to use these qualification fixtures as a dress rehearsal of sorts, to determine who makes his final squad list for the month-long tournament in Qatar.