Brazil squad: Neymar, Endrick left out for World Cup qualifiers
Al Hilal forward Neymar and Real Madrid’s Endrick have been left out of Brazil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers at Venezuela and Uruguay.
Endrick, 18, has played only 107 minutes for Madrid and has not featured in his team’s last four games.
Neymar, 32, returned to play with Al Hilal on Oct. 21 after a year-long absence due to injury.
“We decided not to bring him so as not to rush things,” Brazil coach Dorival Junior said on Friday.
“He’s practically fully recovered, but he only had a few minutes, which weighed heavily on the decision.”
Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, last played for his country on Oct. 17, 2023, the game where he sustained a serious left knee injury.
Neymar returned for Al Hilal after a year out with injury in October. Francois Nel/Getty Images“He was willing to be here but he also understood the situation, the condition he is in, the lack of minutes [13] on the field,” Dorival said.
“We have to respect the club’s process. A player of his level always has the pleasure of being here. This is very important to us, even though he is not in full condition.”
Neymar will have to wait until the March 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina to return to the national team.
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior is back in the squad having missed the October qualifiers with a neck injury.
Vinícius joins the squad following a disappointing week which saw him miss out on the Ballon d’Or award. The Brazilian finished behind Manchester City’s Rodri.
“I spoke to him the day before because I want to speak to him personally,” Dorival said of Vinícius.
“In my opinion, an unfair situation, especially because it is an individual award. Nothing against whoever won the award, quite the opposite, it is the recognition of one of the great players of Spanish football, but Vinícius, for the work he did, should have received different attention.
“But the greatest prize that Vinícius won was the recognition and respect of his people. The vast majority of the Brazilian people realized the injustice that was done to the player who could have deservedly received the award.”
Chelsea-bound teenager Estêvão Willian, who was left out of the team for the October qualifiers, has made the 23-man squad.
Estêvão, 17, has scored 11 league goals for Palmeiras and is the joined-leading scorer in Brazil’s Serie A alongside Flamengo’s Pedro Guilherme. Manchester City winger Savinho, who was carried off on a stretcher during the 2-1 loss at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday with a suspected right ankle injury, has also been included.
Brazil are fourth in South America’s World Cup qualifying table, four points adrift of leaders Argentina after 10 games. Brazil play at Venezuela on Nov. 14 and host Uruguay five days later. The top six teams will qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, with the seventh-placed team going into an intercontinental playoff.
Brazil squad
Goalkeepers: Bento (Al Nassr), Éderson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Abner (Lyon), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Murillo (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: André (Wolverhampton), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United) and Raphinha (Barcelona)
Forwards: Estevão (Palmeiras), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City) and Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid)
News
Mahomes’ Nightmare: Chiefs’ Heartbreak Loss to Bills
Mahomes’ Nightmare: Chiefs’ Heartbreak Loss to Bills In a stunning turn of events, the Kansas City Chiefs, led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, suffered a devastating loss to the Buffalo Bills in a high-stakes AFC Divisional Round playoff game. The…
Goldberg and Rapinoe Abandon America: “We are DONE with…”
Whoopi Goldberg and Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe Announce Their Intention to Leave America: “We are DONE with…” Iconic actress and talk show co-host Whoopi Goldberg, alongside soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe, have declared their intentions to leave America. The overwhelming sentiment…
NFL Upheaval: Mahomes and Kelce at the Center of a Shocking Crime Spree
NFL Upheaval: Mahomes and Kelce at the Center of a Shocking Crime Spree In a stunning turn of events that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, two of the league’s brightest stars, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas…
Bills Fans Hang Kermit Puppet… Ahead Of Chiefs Game
Bills Fans Hang Kermit Puppet… Ahead Of Chiefs Game Buffalo fans are being called out ahead of their team’s huge game against the Kansas City Chiefs … after the Bills Mafia dressed a Kermit the Frog puppet like Patrick Mahomes and…
DEVASTATING NEWS ABOUT TRAVIS KELCE CANCELS BILLS VS. CHIEFS SHOWDOWN
HEARTBREAK IN THE NFL: DEVASTATING NEWS ABOUT TRAVIS KELCE CANCELS BILLS VS. CHIEFS SHOWDOWN The NFL world was rocked by the shocking announcement on Sunday: the highly anticipated Bills vs. Chiefs game was canceled following devastating news about star tight…
LIVE: The Bills vs. Chiefs game is interrupted as Chiefs TE Travis Kelce passes out on the field.
SHOCKING: The Bills vs. Chiefs game is interrupted as Chiefs TE Travis Kelce passes out on the field. BREAKING NEWS: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Collapses on Field During Bills Game** In a shocking moment during the highly anticipated Bills vs….
End of content
No more pages to load