Carlo Ancelotti has left Neymar out of his Brazil squad and handed maiden call-ups to Gabriel Sara, Igor Thiago and Rayan. Endrick earned a recall for the glamour friendlies against France and Croatia, which will be the Seleção’s last tests before the Italian names his final list for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, but there was disappointment for, among others, Andre, Antony, Carlos Augusto, Fabricio Bruno, Gerson, Hugo Souza, Igor Jesus, Joao Gomes, Joelinton, Kaio Jorge, Lucas Paqueta, Paulo Henrique, Richarlison and Vitor Roque.
The likes of Alexsandro, Bruno Guimaraes, Eder Militao and Estevao missed out due to injury or lack of match fitness. Rodrygo has been ruled out of the global finals after tearing the ACL in his right knee.
Neymar’s World Cup hopes hit
Whether Ancelotti will take Neymar to the World Cup has been monopolising and polarising Brazil, as was the case with Mario Zagallo and Romario ahead of France 1998. The ludicrously-gifted attacker hasn’t represented his country since tearing his ACL against Uruguay in 2023.
Neymar has consistently expressed his desperation to go to the tournament, but has struggled with hamstring and knee injuries over the last year. Since returning from his latest spell on the sidelines, Neymar has registered two goals and two assists in four appearances for Santos.
“Neymar might make the World Cup, but he also might not. If he’s not 100 per cent, he won’t be there. If he can get to 100 per cent, he might be called up.
“Right now, he’s not. As I said, there’s a final list [to come]. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showing his qualities and staying in good shape physically.”
An 18-year-old Neymar was controversially overlooked by Dunga for South Africa 2010. At his first global finals, on home soil in 2014, the Mogi das Cruzes native sizzled before suffering a fractured vertebra in a quarter-final win over Colombia. In his absence, Brazil were annihilated 7-1 by Germany. The South Americans then lost 2-1 to Belgium in the last eight of Russia 2018 and, despite a Neymar wonder goal, on penalties to Croatia at the same stage of Qatar 2022.
Newcomers
Igor Thiago has revelled in a meteoric rise over the last seven months. Having failed to make it in his homeland, he had prolific spells in Bulgaria and Belgium before joining Brentford in 2024. After an injury-plagued and goalless first season with the Bees, the 24-year-old has had a spectacular second, scoring 21 goals in 31 games. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has bettered Igor Thiago’s total of 18 in the Premier League.
Gabriel Sara is another who has enjoyed a breakout campaign. He finished 2023/24 playing for Norwich City in the English second flight, but the 26-year-old playmaker’s creativity has been central to Galatasaray sitting top of the Turkish Super Lig and leading Liverpool 1-0 in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
Rayan had been linked with moves to Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid before signing for Bournemouth in January. The 19-year-old, who can play on the wing or up front, has made a sterling start to life in the Premier League. Fast, strong and tricky, Rayan’s ferocious shooting has led to comparisons with former Brazil striker Adriano ‘The Emperor’.
Returnees
Endrick, who last represented Brazil in a 4-1 loss to Argentina one year ago, has earned a recall. The forward played under Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and has hit six goals in 12 games on loan at Lyon. Still only 19, Endrick already has 14 caps to his name.
Two centre-backs earned international returns. Bremer of Juventus and Al Ahli’s Roger Ibanez won the last of their caps in 2022. Botafogo midfielder Danilo also got his first invite in four years.
Brazil squad
Alisson (Liverpool)
Bento (Al Nassr)
Ederson (Fenerbahce)
Bremer (Juventus)
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
Ibanez (Al Ahli)
Leo Pereira (Flamengo)
Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Alex Sandro (Flamengo)
Danilo (Flamengo)
Douglas Santos (Zenit)
Wesley (Roma)
Andrey Santos (Chelsea)
Casemiro (Manchester United)
Danilo (Botafogo)
Fabinho (Al Ittihad)
Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)
Endrick (Lyon)
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Igor Thiago (Brentford)
Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
Luiz Henrique (Zenit)
Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)
Raphinha (Barcelona)
Rayan (Bournemouth)
Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
Big tests
Brazil will take on France on Thursday, 26 March at Boston Stadium in Boston, before encountering Croatia five days later at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
Brazil and France have become footballing rivals due to their four World Cup collisions. The Seleção triumphed 5-2 in the Sweden 1958 semi-finals, before Les Bleus won on penalties following one of the most exhilarating games in the competition’s history in the Mexico 1986 quarters. Two Zinedine Zidane headers helped deck Ronaldo and Brazil in the 1998 final, before a breathtaking ‘Zizou’ performance propelled France into the Germany 2006 semi-finals. In the teams’ last tussle in 2015, Neymar scored as Brazil emerged 3-1 fightback victors at the Stade de France.
Brazil beat Croatia 1-0 at 2006 World Cup thanks to a glorious Kaka goal, while Neymar scored twice in the fixture in a 3-1 victory in the opening match of the 2014 edition. In their previous clash, in the Qatar 2022 quarter-finals, a Neymar golazo gave Brazil an extra-time lead, only for Bruno Petkovic to equalise and Croatia to win on penalties.
Brazil will play Morocco in New York New Jersey, Haiti in Philadelphia and Scotland in Miami in Group C of the World Cup. The Seleção are its record five-time champions, but have not finished on the podium since grabbing gold at Korea/Japan 2022.
After starting the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions as the favourites, Ancelotti’s side are only fifth on the bookmakers’ list behind Argentina, France, England and frontrunners Spain.
