Gabriel Magalhães Withdraws from Brazil Squad with Knee Injury
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães has been ruled out of Brazil’s upcoming friendly matches against France and Croatia due to a right knee injury sustained during the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on March 23, 2026. The injury casts a shadow over Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes, as they are already dealing with several other injury concerns.
Injury Details and Timeline
Gabriel played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Following the match, he reported pain in his right knee. Subsequent imaging tests confirmed he is unfit to participate in the international friendlies. ESPN reported the news on March 23, 2026.
Brazil’s International Schedule
Brazil was scheduled to face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. The Brazilian national team has not announced a replacement for Gabriel in the squad. ESPN confirmed that no replacement will be called up.
Arsenal’s Injury Concerns
Gabriel is the third Arsenal player to withdraw from international duty during this break. William Saliba previously pulled out of the France squad with an ankle injury and Eberechi Eze is absent from the England squad due to a calf problem. This mounting injury list presents a challenge for Arsenal as they continue their pursuit of the Premier League title. ESPN and BBC both reported on the growing injury concerns at the club.
Gabriel Magalhães’ Career to Date
Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, born December 19, 1997, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Arsenal and the Brazil national team. He joined Arsenal in 2020 for a reported fee of £27 million. Prior to joining Arsenal, he played for Avaí, Lille, and had loan spells with Troyes and Dinamo Zagreb. He made his international debut for Brazil in 2023 and has earned 17 caps for his country as of November 15, 2025. Wikipedia provides a detailed overview of his career.
As of March 14, 2026, Gabriel has made 185 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 20 goals. He is recognized for his strength, aggression, tackling ability, and aerial prowess, and is considered one of the best defenders in the world. Wikipedia
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