Neymar Jr. Left Out of Brazil’s Squad for France, Croatia Friendlies
Neymar’s hopes of playing at the World Cup are fading with the Santos forward once again left out of Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the upcoming friendlies in the United States.
Brazil’s matches against France and Croatia on March 26 in Boston and March 31 in Orlando, respectively, will be the last encounters before Ancelotti names his final World Cup roster on May 18.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee.
The former Barcelona star reiterated on Sunday his desire to compete for Brazil at the World Cup after playing 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians, a game which had two of Ancelotti’s assistants in attendance.
Neymar, 34, did not stand out after sitting out in the previous match in midweek that had Ancelotti in the stands.
Endrick, who has scored six goals in 12 appearances since joining Lyon from Real Madrid in the winter transfer window, has been named by Ancelotti for the first time since the coach took over in June.
Brentford’s Igor Thiago has earned his first call up and is part of Brazil’s 26-man squad.
Barcelona forward Raphinha and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior lead Brazil’s attack with Chelsea’s João Pedro and Matheus Cunha also included.
Midfielder Lucas Paquetá, who joined Flamengo from West Ham United in January, has been left out but veteran Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is in the roster.
Brazil begin their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13. The five-time world champions will also go up against 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).
