Kolkata : Brazil forward Joao Pedro has withdrawn from the national squad due to an injury ahead of the team’s upcoming friendlies, including their much-anticipated clash against India in Kolkata. Fluminense midfielder Martinelli has been called up by Carlo Ancelotti as his replacement.
The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the change on Wednesday but did not reveal the nature of Joo Pedro’s injury. The Chelsea forward had been enjoying an excellent start to the season, scoring three goals in six appearances and being named the Premier League Player of the Month for August.
Joao Pedro played the full 2-2 draw against Hull last weekend and scored, with Chelsea yet to provide further details about his fitness. His absence means India will miss the opportunity to face one of the forwards who had been included in Ancelotti’s squad for the upcoming international window.
For India, the focus now shifts to the quality of the Brazil squad that will arrive in Kolkata for the October 3 friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium. The match is set to be one of the biggest fixtures in Indian football in recent years, with several established stars still expected to be part of Ancelotti’s plans.
Ancelotti has brought Martinelli into the squad following Joo Pedro’s withdrawal. The Fluminense midfielder will now be part of Brazil’s preparations for the matches against Australia and India.
Joao Pedro’s selection had also marked his return to the Brazil setup after he was surprisingly left out of the squad for the 2026 World Cup. His impressive form at Chelsea had made that decision a talking point, but his latest injury has now ended his involvement in the upcoming fixtures.
Brazil are entering a new phase following their early World Cup exit against Norway, with Ancelotti using the international window to assess his options ahead of future competitions.
