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João Pedro will miss Brazil’s upcoming international fixtures after an injury forced him to withdraw from Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, marking his second consecutive absence from the national team.
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The Chelsea forward was previously left out of Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad by Ancelotti, with the decision then being a selection call rather than an injury-related absence.
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João Pedro had been recalled for Brazil’s first post-World Cup squad but will now miss the matches against Australia and India, with Fluminense midfielder Martinelli called up as his replacement.
September 16, (THEWILL) – João Pedro’s difficult start to his latest Brazil chapter has taken another turn, with injury ruling the Chelsea forward out of the national team’s upcoming fixtures.
The 24-year-old was initially included in Carlo Ancelotti’s first Brazil squad following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving him an immediate opportunity to return to the Seleção after missing out on the tournament itself. However, his comeback will now be delayed after the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that he has been withdrawn from the squad because of an injury.
The latest omission is particularly notable because it is the second consecutive time João Pedro has missed out on representing Brazil, but the circumstances could hardly be more different.
When Ancelotti announced his 2026 World Cup squad in May, João Pedro was one of the notable names left out. The decision was not related to injury, with the Brazil coach explaining that other players had been selected ahead of the Chelsea striker despite acknowledging the quality of his season.
João Pedro had scored 20 goals in 49 appearances during his first season at Chelsea, but that form was not enough to secure a place in Brazil’s final World Cup squad. He subsequently missed the tournament as Ancelotti led Brazil into the competition.
His return came in September, when Ancelotti included him in Brazil’s first squad of the new cycle alongside a number of fresh faces. The call-up appeared to give João Pedro a chance to put the disappointment of the World Cup omission behind him and establish himself in the new-look Seleção.
Instead, injury has intervened once again.
The CBF confirmed on September 16 that João Pedro would be replaced by Fluminense midfielder Martinelli for the upcoming friendlies. Brazil are scheduled to face Australia on September 25 and 29 before meeting India on October 3.
The nature of João Pedro’s injury has not been disclosed, although reports indicate he had already missed Chelsea training and is expected to be unavailable for his club’s next fixture as well.
For João Pedro, the latest setback means another wait for the opportunity to pull on the famous yellow shirt. After missing the World Cup because of Ancelotti’s selection decision, he must now recover from injury before another chance to make his mark for Brazil arrives.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
