Brazil calls up Endrick for World Cup friendlies

Strong form at Lyon earns Endrick call-up

Endrick, 19, regained form with French club Lyon after a loan from Real Madrid, scoring six goals and providing four assists in 15 matches since January. His last appearance for the Seleção was over a year ago, coming on as a substitute in a 4-1 loss to Argentina in South American World Cup qualifiers. Despite his young age, he has already earned 14 caps for five-time world champions, scoring three goals.

Neymar sidelined but could return for World Cup

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals—two more than Pelé—has been sidelined since October 2023 due to a serious knee injury. Ancelotti stressed that the 34-year-old could still feature in his fourth World Cup if he regains full fitness, saying, “I did not call him because he is not at 100%... but the final squad is another story.”

Testing new attacking talents

The coach will use the matches against France and Croatia to evaluate emerging attacking players, including Igor Thiago (Brentford) and Ryan (Bournemouth), while key players like Rodrigo and Bruno Guimarães are sidelined through injury.

Kits and match schedule

Brazil will wear their new blue kit against France in Boston on March 27 and return to the traditional yellow against Croatia in Orlando on March 31, replicating the 2022 World Cup quarter-final clash.

Brazil squad:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahçe)

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al Ahli), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Wesley (Roma)

Midfielders: André Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), João Pedro (Chelsea), Luís Henrique (Zenit St Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Ryan (Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid).