Chelsea forward Estevao will miss the upcoming World Cup with Brazil after sustaining a thigh injury, according to a report from ESPN. The 19-year-old standout has been sidelined since April 18, when he picked up the injury during a match against Manchester United.
The young star was not named to the preliminary 55-player list submitted by Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday. However, veteran striker Neymar was included in the expanded squad, ESPN reported.
All teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America were required to submit a preliminary 55-man roster by Monday. The final 26-player squads must be drawn from those preliminary pools.
Neymar’s inclusion marks a significant step in his pursuit of a fourth World Cup appearance. The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, but has not been selected to play for the national team since Ancelotti took over as head coach in June.
Estevao has left Chelsea and returned to Brazil to undergo treatment with Palmeiras, his former club. He was considered a lock for the World Cup roster after scoring five goals in his first 11 international appearances.
In addition to Estevao, Real Madrid’s Eder Militao and Rodrygo will also miss the World Cup due to injuries.
Five-time World Cup champions Brazil are in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They will open their campaign against Morocco on June 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
