The Brazilian Football Federation confirmed the change to the squad as the team prepares for a series of international fixtures. Martinelli, who has established himself as a consistent performer in the Fluminense midfield, will now travel with the national team for their encounters against Australia and India.
Squad Adjustments and Upcoming Fixtures
The national side, managed by Carlo Ancelotti, is scheduled to play Australia twice on September 25 and 29. Following these matches, the team will travel to Kolkata for a fixture against India on Saturday, October 3. These games represent the first international action for Brazil since their elimination from the FIFA World Cup in the round of 16 by Norway.
While Martinelli prepares for his senior debut, the absence of Joao Pedro comes as a significant blow to the forward's momentum. Pedro had been in excellent form for Chelsea, recording three goals and three assists across the club's first four Premier League matches. This performance made him the player with the highest number of direct goal contributions in the competition during that period. Additionally, he became only the third player in Premier League history to register both a goal and an assist in three of the first four matchdays of a season, matching the records set by Thierry Henry in 2004-05 and Michail Antonio in 2021-22.
Background on the New Call-Up
Neither the Brazilian football authorities nor Chelsea have disclosed specific details regarding the nature of Pedro’s injury or his anticipated recovery timeline. For Martinelli, the call-up serves as a milestone in a career that has progressed steadily since his professional debut in November 2020. During that debut, a Série A match against Red Bull Bragantino, he began his ascent to becoming a regular fixture for the Tricolour.
Since breaking into the first team, Martinelli has demonstrated his capability in the midfield, notably scoring three goals in his first 11 appearances. His impact was further highlighted in February 2021, when he was named the Série A Man of the Weekend after contributing a goal in a 3-1 victory over Ceará. He now looks to translate that domestic form to the international stage as Brazil begins its post-World Cup campaign.
