Chelsea striker João Pedro has officially withdrawn from the Brazil national squad after suffering an injury, preventing him from participating in the upcoming international break.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed that the forward would not take part in the upcoming matches, although the exact specifics regarding the nature of his injury remain undisclosed. To fill the vacancy left by the Chelsea attacker, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected Fluminense midfielder Matheus Martinelli as a replacement in the squad.
Due to the physical setback, Pedro will miss a series of international exhibition games. Brazil are scheduled to face Australia twice on September 25 and September 29, before traveling to play India in Kolkata on October 3.
The timing of the injury comes as a significant blow to Pedro, who had been enjoying a strong start to the current campaign for Chelsea. The physical issue developed after he played the full 90 minutes for the Blues in a 2-2 Premier League draw against Hull City on September 12, a fixture in which he scored a goal and recorded an assist.
The selection had marked a notable comeback for the striker, who was recently recalled to the national team squad after previously being omitted from Brazil’s 2026 World Cup roster. His efforts to re-establish himself on the international stage have now hit a temporary roadblock as he focuses on his fitness recovery.
