Indian football fans have suffered a major disappointment ahead of Brazil’s much-awaited friendly against India, with Chelsea star João Pedro ruled out of the historic fixture due to injury.
The 24-year-old forward has withdrawn from Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad and will miss the upcoming international friendlies against Australia and India.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed that João Pedro has been replaced by Fluminense midfielder Matheus Martinelli, who has received his first senior call-up for the national team. The nature of João Pedro’s injury has not been officially disclosed.
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João Pedro Ruled Out After Chelsea Injury
The Chelsea forward picked up the injury during his side’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Hull City on September 12. Despite the issue, João Pedro completed the match and even scored for Chelsea while also providing an assist.
His absence comes at an unfortunate time, with the forward having started the season strongly. He was also named Premier League Player of the Month for August, showcasing his importance at Chelsea during the opening weeks of the campaign.
João Pedro was among the Brazilian players expected to add significant star power to the October 3 clash at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Martinelli Receives First Brazil Call-Up
Ancelotti has moved quickly to fill João Pedro’s place, calling up Matheus Martinelli from Fluminense.
The 24-year-old midfielder has never previously represented Brazil at senior level and will now get an opportunity to work under Ancelotti during the September-October international window. The decision also fits into Ancelotti’s wider plan of assessing new players following Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
Brazil will face Australia twice, on September 25 and 29, before travelling to India for the historic encounter on October 3.
Another Setback After World Cup Snub
João Pedro’s latest setback comes after another disappointment earlier this year. Despite his performances for Chelsea, he was left out of Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Ancelotti selecting other attacking options, including Neymar, Endrick and Vinícius Júnior.
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His return to the Brazil squad for the post-World Cup friendlies had therefore represented an important opportunity to establish himself under Ancelotti.
Brazil will come to India with superstars like Vinícius Júnior, Raphinha, Endrick, Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos among the players selected for the upcoming fixtures.
The Brazil-India friendly will take place on October 3 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, marking the first-ever meeting between the two national teams.