João Pedro Withdraws From Brazil Squad With Injury

Chelsea forward João Pedro has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming international fixtures after suffering an injury, with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirming his withdrawal from Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.

The 25-year-old was included in Ancelotti’s first Brazil squad following the 2026 World Cup, but he will now miss the upcoming friendlies against Australia and India.

The CBF announced on Wednesday that Fluminense midfielder Martinelli has been called up to replace João Pedro.

“Martinelli, from Fluminense, was called up this Wednesday by coach Carlo Ancelotti for the Brazilian national team’s friendlies against Australia and India,” the federation confirmed. “The player will replace Chelsea forward João Pedro, who is injured.”

The nature of João Pedro’s injury has not been officially disclosed by the CBF, meaning there is currently no confirmed timeframe for his return to club football.

However, Brazilian reports indicate that the Chelsea forward was already absent from training on Tuesday after suffering the problem. He is also expected to miss Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Brentford.

The injury comes at an unfortunate time for João Pedro, who had made an impressive start to the new Premier League season and had been rewarded with his first inclusion in Ancelotti’s post-World Cup plans.

João Pedro was one of the 26 players initially selected by Ancelotti for Brazil’s first international matches since the World Cup.

The Chelsea striker was named alongside fellow forwards Endrick, Estêvão, Pedro, Raphinha, Rayan, Samuel Lino and Vinícius Júnior in the original squad.

His absence will therefore leave Brazil with one fewer recognised central attacking option as Ancelotti continues his rebuilding process ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

Martinelli Receives First Brazil Call-Up

Martinelli has been selected as João Pedro’s replacement and will receive his first senior Brazil call-up.

The 24-year-old midfielder has been an important player for Fluminense and has been monitored by the national-team coaching staff during the season.

His selection also underlines Ancelotti’s willingness to experiment with different players as he begins shaping a new Brazil squad after the 2026 World Cup.

Martinelli is primarily a midfielder rather than a direct replacement for João Pedro's role as a centre-forward, suggesting that the change is not necessarily a like-for-like attacking substitution.

Brazilian reports have noted that João Pedro’s absence also leaves Flamengo striker Pedro as the only natural centre-forward in the squad with that particular profile.

Brazil's Upcoming Fixtures

Brazil will play three matches during the upcoming extended international window.

Ancelotti’s side will face Australia twice, with the first meeting scheduled for September 25 in Townsville and the second taking place on September 29 in Brisbane.

Brazil will then travel to India for a historic meeting with the Asian side on October 3 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

The match against India will be the first meeting between the two senior national teams.

For Ancelotti, the matches represent an opportunity to assess several players who were not part of Brazil’s World Cup squad while beginning preparations for the next phase of the national team.

João Pedro will now have to concentrate on his recovery before returning to Chelsea and attempting to regain his place in Ancelotti’s plans.

The injury also means the forward will miss an important opportunity to make an early impression on the new Brazil manager following his absence from the World Cup squad.

For now, however, the CBF has provided no indication of how long João Pedro will be sidelined.