FOOTBALL
By Animesh Pandey
Posted on May 14, 2026 7:00 pm | Updated on May 14, 2026 10:59 am
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Estevao will miss out on the World Cup this time. The 19-year-old Chelsea forward is replaced by Neymar due to recurring injuries. Estevao is excluded from the preliminary list of Brazil players to be selected for the FIFA World Cup.
Why Estevao Was Left Out Of World Cup?
Carlo Ancelotti submitted the list of probables for Brazil World Cup on Monday. Ancelotti is the current head coach of Brazil men’s football team. [As per Football London](http://The signs were visible when Calum McFarlane [interim coach of Chelsea] confirmed the same. Before the match against Leeds United), Estevao’s name was missing from the list of probables. This is because his fitness couldn’t be confirmed in time. Interestingly, his teammates, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos, have been called up.
The striker missed Chelsea’s last four matches due to a hamstring injury. He sustained the injury during the match with Manchester United last month. The Blues had lost that match 0-1.
Consequently, the 19-year-old missed out on multiple matches. These included the League matches against Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool. Estevao also missed out on the FA Cup semifinals against the Leeds United.
The signs were visible when Calum McFarlane confirmed the same. Before the match against Leeds United, the interim coach of Chelsea said that Estevao would miss the rest of the season.
Estevao’s numbers for Chelsea this season, as per stats from FotMob:
Competition Appearances Goals Assists
Premier League 22 2 2
FA Cup 3 2 1
EFL Cup 2 1 0
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Why Neymar Was Preferred Over The Chelsea Striker?
With time, everything changes. No one would know it better than Neymar. A year ago, Estevao was all set for a grand World Cup debut. However, the striker is now out of the squad. This gives Neymar a fourth attempt at World Cup glory.
Meanwhile, coach Ancelotti maintained that a lot remains to be done. Whether or not the 34-year-old pro makes it to the squad depends on his performance. As per ESPN, he said,
“Not just by the fans, but by the players, too. If you call on Neymar, you won’t be causing a stir in the dressing room, because he’s so well-liked, loved so much.”
Ancelotti aims to end the 24-year-old drought for Brazil this summer. The team hasn’t won a World Cup since 2002. Brazil lost out to Croatia on penalties in the 2022 edition. Croatia went on to clinch the bronze medal. They defeated Morocco 2-1.
Neymar’s stats for the current season, as per FotMob:
Tournaments Appearances Goals Assists
Serie A (Brazil) 7 4 2
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Future Of Estevao With Chelsea And Brazil World Cup Squad
Estevao may not have made it to the World Cup. But the journey is far from over for the striker. The teenage sensation has shown promise. He had joined the Blues the last year.
Previously, the teenage striker represented Brazilian club Palmeiras. The 19-year-old represented the club between 2023 and 2025. Estevao performed well for the club, which attracted clubs like Chelsea. Consequently, the Blues struck gold as they recruited him for the 2025 season.
As a player for Brazil, the 19-year-old has done wonders. He made his senior debut in September 2024. The young striker was called up for the FIFA World CUP qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay. The teenager has **scored**5 goals from 11 appearances overall.
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Estevao should focus on recovering as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, missing out on a World Cup debut at 19 will be tragic. However, the teenage striker has plenty of chances to make it in time for the next squad.
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Animesh Pandey
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