Neymar And Endrick Omitted From Brazil’s Squad 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 has played only 107 minutes for Madrid and has not featured in his team’s last four games.

Brazil’s top scorer, Neymar, will remain on the sidelines for his country after returning from a long-term knee injury in Al-Hilal’s 5-4 win over Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League last week.

Raphinha has been one of Barca’s standout performers in the first half of the season and is coming off the back of a goal in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid and a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Raphinha has been one of Barca’s standout performers in the first half of the season and is coming off the back of a goal in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid and a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Dorival on Vinicius Ballon d’Or lost 

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 has scored 11 league goals for Palmeiras and is the 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 currently sits fourth in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, trailing leaders Argentina by four points after 10 matches. The team will face Venezuela away on November 14 and then 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.

“I think we are in a process of evolution, but it’s not ideal yet,” Dorival told reporters.

“We’re going to fluctuate a bit more until we find consistency. But we are finding a way and I hope that happens in the next few games so we can be in a better position next year.

“I don’t pay too much attention to the first results. God willing, we will get results to get closer to the leaders.

Squad

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

Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Abner (Olympique Lyonnais), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris St Germain), Murilo (Nottingham Forest)

Midfielders: Andre (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Raphinha (Barcelona)

Strikers: Estevao (Palmeiras), Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Savinho (Manchester City)