Al Hilal striker Neymar and Real Madrid player Endrik have been excluded from Brazil’s squad that will face Venezuela and Uruguay in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Endrik, 18, has played just 107 minutes for Real Madrid and has not featured in his team’s last four matches.
Neymar (32 years old) returned to play with Al Hilal on October 21 after a year-long absence due to injury.
“We decided not to include him so as not to rush things,” Brazil coach Dorival Junior said on Friday.
“He has fully recovered, but he only had a few minutes left, which greatly influenced the decision.”
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer, last played for his country on October 17, 2023, a match in which he suffered a serious injury to his left knee.
“He wanted to be here but he also understood the situation, the situation he was in, and the lack of (13) minutes on the field,” Dorival said.
“We have to respect the club’s process. A player of his level is always happy to be here. This is very important for us, even though he is not in perfect condition.”
Neymar will have to wait until March 2025 for the World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina to return to the national team.
Real Madrid striker Vinicius Junior is back in the squad after missing the October qualifiers due to a neck injury.
Vinicius joined the team after a disappointing week that saw him miss out on the Ballon d’Or. The Brazilian finished behind Manchester City’s Rodri.
Dorival said of Vinicius: “I spoke to him the other day because I want to speak to him personally.”
“In my opinion, this is an unfair situation, especially since it is an individual award. There is nothing against whoever won the award, quite the opposite, it is recognition of one of the greatest players in Spanish football, Vinicius, for the work he has done.” , should have received different attention.
“But the biggest prize that Vinicius won was the appreciation and respect of his people. The vast majority of the Brazilian people recognized the injustice done to a player who could have deservedly received the award.”
Chelsea-bound teenager Estevao Willian, who was left out of the squad for the October qualifiers, has joined the 23-man squad.
Estévão, 17, has scored 11 league goals for Palmeiras and is the top scorer in the Brazilian league alongside Flamengo’s Pedro Guilherme. Manchester City winger Savinho, who was carried off on a stretcher during the 2-1 loss to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday due to a right ankle injury, has also been included.
Brazil occupies fourth place in the South American World Cup qualifiers, four points behind leaders Argentina after 10 matches. Brazil will play Venezuela on November 14, then host Uruguay five days later. The top six teams automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, while the seventh-placed team will play in an inter-continental playoff.
Brazil national team
Goalkeepers: Pinto (Al Nasr), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmereis).
Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Abner (Lyon), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Madrid), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Murilo (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Andre (Wolverhampton), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Rafinha (Barcelona).
forward: Estévão (Palmiras), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City) and Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
