Cruel timing! João Pedro's Brazil comeback collapses days after his heroic return

Football can be brutally unfair: João Pedro waited all summer for his way back into the Brazil squad, and just days after earning it, injury has torn it away again.

Details: João Pedro is injured and has been officially withdrawn from the Brazil squad for the upcoming international break. The 24-year-old Chelsea forward, who had just been recalled by Carlo Ancelotti after missing the 2026 World Cup, was absent from training at Cobham this week alongside captain Reece James.

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The sequence is painful. In May, Ancelotti left João Pedro out of Brazil's World Cup squad, the most high-profile omission of the selection, despite the striker being a regular since the Italian took charge. The Brazilian responded the only way he knew: by scoring. He was Chelsea's savior at the weekend, rescuing a point against Hull City, and the reward arrived in the shape of a long-awaited recall for the October fixtures. Days later, his body had other plans. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed, but his absence from Tuesday's session, with James also missing, set alarm bells ringing at Cobham, and the federation's withdrawal of the forward all but confirms it is more than a knock. Chelsea, who have already dealt with the long-term absence of Levi Colwill, now sweat on their attacking leader ahead of Friday's trip to Brentford. For a player whose career has repeatedly been interrupted at the worst moments, this one might sting the most.

It's worth noting that João Pedro's injury record includes two lengthy ankle layoffs earlier in his career, and he had only just returned to full rhythm after missing six matches last spring.

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