Brazil squad: Neymar, Endrick missing for World Cup qualifiers

Al Hilal striker Neymar and Real Madrid's Endrick have been left out of Brazil's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Venezuela and Uruguay.

The 18-year-old Endrick has played just 107 minutes for Madrid and has not featured in his team's last four games.

Neymar, 32, returned to Al Hilal on October 21 after a year of absence due to injury.

“We decided not to bring him in so as not to rush things,” Brazil coach Dorival Junior said on Friday.

“He is virtually fully recovered but only had a few minutes, which weighed heavily on the decision.”

Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, last played for his country on October 17, 2023, when he suffered a serious injury to his left knee.

“He was ready 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. That is very important to us, even if 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 striker Vinícius Júnior is back in the squad after missing October's qualifying games with a neck injury.

Vinícius joins the squad after a disappointing week in which he missed out on the Ballon d'Or. 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, on the contrary, it is the recognition of one of the greatest players in Spanish football, namely Vinícius, for the work he has done.” , should have received other attention.

“But the greatest prize that Vinícius won was the recognition and respect of his people. The vast majority of the Brazilian population was aware of the injustice done to the player who could have deservedly received the award.”

Chelsea-bound teenager Estêvão Willian, who was not in the squad for October's qualifiers, has been included in the 23-man squad.

The 17-year-old Estêvão has scored 11 league goals for Palmeiras and is the top scorer in Brazil's Serie A alongside Flamengo's Pedro Guilherme. Also, Manchester City winger Savinho, in the 2-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday was carried away on a stretcher because of a suspected injury to his right ankle.

Brazil are in fourth place in South America's World Cup qualifying table, four points behind leaders Argentina after ten games. Brazil plays Venezuela on November 14th and hosts Uruguay five days later. The top six teams automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with the seventh-place team advancing to an intercontinental playoff.

Brazil squad

Goalkeeper: Bento (Al Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)

defender: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Abner (Lyon), Guilherme Arana (Atlético-MG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Murillo (Nottingham Forest)

midfielder: André (Wolverhampton), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United) and Raphinha (Barcelona)

Forward: Estevão (Palmeiras), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Savinho (Manchester City) and Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid)