Neymar omitted from Brazil’s roster for March, Endrick included.
Neymar’s chances of participating in the World Cup are diminishing as the Santos forward has once again been excluded from Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s roster for the forthcoming friendlies in the United States.
Brazil’s encounters against France and Croatia on March 26 in Boston and March 31 in Orlando, respectively, will be the final matches before Ancelotti announces his definitive World Cup squad on May 18.
Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has not represented the national team since October 2023, when he sustained a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee. The former Barcelona player expressed on Sunday his aspiration to compete for Brazil at the World Cup after playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians, a match attended by two of Ancelotti’s assistants.
Neymar, 34, did not make a significant impact after missing the previous match in midweek that Ancelotti observed from the stands.
Endrick, who has netted six goals in 12 appearances since transferring to Lyon from Real Madrid during the winter transfer window, has been selected by Ancelotti for the first time since the coach’s appointment in June.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago has received his first call-up and is included in Brazil’s 26-man squad.
Barcelona forward Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior spearhead Brazil’s attack, with Chelsea’s João Pedro and Matheus Cunha also featured. Midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who moved to Flamengo from West Ham United in January, has been omitted, while veteran Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is part of the lineup.
Brazil will commence their World Cup journey against Morocco on June 13. The five-time world champions will also face Scotland and Haiti in Group C.
Full Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al Nassr), Éderson (Fenerbahce).
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Ibañez (Al-Ahly), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG), Wesley (Roma).
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray).
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), João Pedro (Chelsea).
