Chennaiyin FC midfielder Elsinho ruled out for remainder of ISL 2025-26 season

Elsinho suffered an MPFL injury against East Bengal.

Chennaiyin FC saw their hard luck continue in the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season as they suffered a dismal 3-1 loss to East Bengal on Saturday (11 April, 2026). It stretched their winless run to three games, but things have now gone from bad to worse for the two-time ISL champions because of a worrying update on Elsinho.

In an official statement on Elsinho, they wrote on X: “Chennaiyin FC can confirm that Elsinho sustained a knee injury during our match against East Bengal FC. He has been diagnosed with a ruptured Medial Patellofemoral Retinaculum (MPFL) & will be ruled out for the remainder of the season We are all behind you, Elsinho.”

Elsinho’s injury puts Chennaiyin FC in jeopardy

Minutes after East Bengal took a 1-0 lead over Chennaiyin FC thanks to Edmund Lalrindika’s goal, Elsinho went down in a heap of pain on the pitch. He had to be ultimately taken off on a stretcher, having sustained a nasty knee injury during play and replaced by Mohammed Ali Bemammer.

Well, Chennaiyin FC have now given the official diagnosis on Elsinho’s injury. They have confirmed that the Brazilian veteran sustained a ruptured Medial Patellofemoral Retinaculum (MPFL) in the East Bengal clash, which will cause him to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 ISL campaign. The 35-year-old is going to need to undergo surgery to fix the issue, with recovery from surgery itself estimated to take 4-6 months.

How has Elsinho performed in ISL 2025-26?

The 35-year-old midfielder has been a part of the Chennaiyin FC squad since joining them in 2024, after having left Jamshedpur FC in that same year. The versatile Brazilian player, who played both as a centre-back and midfielder for the Marina Machans, made 21 appearances in the 2024-25 season for Chennaiyin FC.

Elsinho also featured in all seven matches for Chennaiyin FC, including the East Bengal clash, scoring a goal in their 1-1 draw against Odisha FC. However, the knee injury means that might be the end of the Brazilian’s career with the Marina Machans, with his contract set to expire at the end of May (2026).

Chennaiyin FC are yet to give any update on any potential replacement they have in line for Elsinho, with the two-time ISL champions having six more matches remaining in the remainder of the 2025-26 ISL campaign.

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