There were heart-wrenching scenes among Joao Pedro's family and friends as the Chelsea forward missed out on a place in Brazil's World Cup squad on Monday night. Carlo Ancelotti officially unveiled his 26-man group at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, less than a month before Brazil's opening match against Morocco.
Surprise Inclusions and Omissions
Eyebrows were raised as 34-year-old Neymar, who now plays for Santos, made the cut despite not featuring for his country since 2023 due to form and injury. The squad also includes a strong Premier League contingent: Alisson, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha, and Rayan.
The biggest shock was Pedro's exclusion. The 24-year-old enjoyed an excellent second season with Chelsea, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Lyon's Endrick and Zenit St Petersburg's Luiz Henrique, who have only 11 goals combined this season, were selected.
Pedro's Response
Pedro responded on social media: 'I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn't possible to fulfil this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused. Joys and frustrations are part of football. I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home.'
Footage of Pedro's devastated family, surrounded by celebratory bunting, circulated on social media, showing their heartbreak as his name was not announced.
Ancelotti's Explanation
'Of course, we are sad for Joao Pedro,' Ancelotti said. 'For the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list, but unfortunately, we chose another player. I feel very sorry for Joao Pedro and all the others.'
On Neymar's inclusion, Ancelotti explained: 'We evaluated Neymar throughout the year, and we saw that in this last period he played consistently and improved his physical condition. We think he is an important player, and he will be an important player in this World Cup.'
Brazil's World Cup Campaign
Five-time winners Brazil begin their World Cup against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 13. They then face Haiti in Philadelphia on June 20 and conclude Group C against Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 24.
