Chelsea Estêvão now a doubt with injury - Brazil’s World Cup chaos continues

Chelsea forward Estêvão is at serious risk of missing the 2026 World Cup. Last Saturday, the Chelsea player was substituted early on in the match against Manchester United with thigh pain, a recurring problem he has faced this season. However, this time the situation is more serious. According to a report by The Athletic, he has suffered a Grade 4 injury to the area, which would rule him out of the World Cup.

If the Grade 4 injury is confirmed, Estêvão, in an optimistic scenario, would only return to the pitch in two months’ time. Brazil’s opening match in the tournament is scheduled for 13 June against Morocco in New Jersey. Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad is due to be announced on 18 May, with pre-tournament training set to begin on 25 May. The second most valuable Brazilian on Transfermarkt, behind only Vinicius Junior, Estêvão has a market value of €80 million and was a sure bet for Ancelotti’s squad. Although he was not called up for the matches against France and Croatia due to fitness issues, he is one of the Italian manager’s key players for the tournament.

Since being called up for the first time in September 2024, Estêvão has made 11 appearances and scored five goals for Brazil. Under Ancelotti, he has started five matches. If Estêvão does not play in the World Cup, Brazil will lose their second star. In March, Rodrygo suffered a knee injury and is not expected to return to the pitch until September. For now, he is the only confirmed absence for the five-time world champions.

Fitness has been a problem for Brazil in 2026. In the friendlies against France and Croatia, Ancelotti was without Alisson, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Bruno Guimarães, Rodrygo and Estêvão. Of these, Alisson has not yet returned to action for Liverpool, but this is not a concern for the World Cup. Eder Militão, however, experienced a recurrence of thigh pain at the weekend, raising doubts about his fitness for the World Cup.