Chelsea forward Estêvão will not feature at the 2026 World Cup after being left out of Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 55-man preliminary squad submitted on Monday, ESPN reports.
Neymar, however, has been named in the expanded list.
Estêvão’s chances of making the tournament had already been in serious doubt after he picked up a right thigh muscle injury during Chelsea’s 1-0 Premier League loss to Manchester United on April 18.
Sources said there was initial optimism that the 19-year-old would recover in time for his first World Cup, but medical teams from both Brazil and Chelsea were unable to guarantee a full recovery before the competition.
The player himself was reportedly aware that his participation was unlikely. Sources noted that Estêvão appeared visibly dejected upon arriving at his former club Palmeiras for treatment last week.
National teams are required to submit 55-man preliminary squad lists to FIFA by May 11. Although these lists are not made public, they form the pool from which final 26-man squads are selected.
Neymar, 34, moved a step closer to a potential fourth World Cup appearance after being included among the forwards in the 55-man squad, sources said.
The Brazil captain and all-time top scorer with 79 goals had not been called up since Ancelotti took charge of the Seleção in June.
Before his injury, Estêvão was widely seen as a guaranteed pick, with Ancelotti known to be an admirer of the Chelsea youngster.
Since joining from Palmeiras for £29 million ($38m) last summer, he has scored eight goals in 36 appearances across all competitions.
Estêvão now joins Real Madrid duo Éder Militão and Rodrygo among players who would likely have been automatic selections for Ancelotti but are ruled out of contention due to serious injuries.
