Disappointment! Even after squad cut, Paulo Henrique loses Copa spot | OneFootball

The confirmation of full-back Wesley being cut from the Brazil National Team squad could have represented a great chance for Paulo Henrique to compete in the 2026 World Cup. The Vasco defender was one of only two specialist right-backs included in the preliminary list of 55 players sent to FIFA. However, coach Carlo Ancelotti surprised many by choosing to call up defensive midfielder Éderson of Atalanta to complete the final 26-man squad, leaving the Vasco player out of the national team tournament.

The player’s current situation contrasts with the peak of his career during the 2025 season, when he was named the best right-back in the Brazilian Championship. His high-level performances caught the attention of the Seleção coaching staff, earning him call-ups for last November’s friendlies against South Korea and Japan. In the match against the Japanese, played at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, the Vasco No. 96 even scored the goal that opened the scoring for Brazil.

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Paulo Henrique celebrates his goal for Brazil – Photo: Fábio Pinto

Physical sacrifice in key matches and decline in form at Vasco

His absence from the final squad is explained by a sharp drop in performance caused by physical problems. In the final stretch of last year, the defender played through pain during the decisive stages of the Copa do Brasil, struggling with intense pain in his foot. The player delivered performances below his usual standard in the semifinals against Fluminense — even scoring an own goal in the second leg — and was unable to recover physically in time to reproduce his ideal technical level in the finals against Corinthians. Because of this, he missed Vasco’s opening matches of the current 2026 season in order to undergo medical treatment on the affected area.

After the transition period and preseason, there was an expectation that the full-back would regain his place, but his good form did not return. Over the last few months, he lost his status as an undisputed starter and began alternating in the starting eleven with Puma Rodríguez, both under Fernando Diniz and under current head coach Renato Gaúcho.

Sprain and Medical Department ruling

Even amid his inconsistency, the Vasco player managed to earn a spot on the World Cup preliminary list and was still hoping for an outside chance. Shortly before Ancelotti’s final call-up, the full-back recalled his past strong performances and put in a good display against Paysandu in the fifth round of the Copa do Brasil. However, early in the second half of the match at São Januário, the defender left the field in tears after colliding with an opponent, with a sprain in his right ankle later confirmed.

The player expressed a desire to take the field in the following match against Internacional, a game seen as his last opportunity to impress the national team coaching staff. Despite his personal effort, he was ultimately ruled out by the Medical Department after tests showed the seriousness of the injury. He only returned to action in the second half of the defeat against Atlético-MG on May 31, which marked the Rio club’s last official match before the national calendar was paused for the World Cup.

PH suffered a blow in Vasco vs Paysandu – Photo: Reproduction

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.