Brazil’s national football team has announced its roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay, with notable absences of seasoned forward Neymar and emerging star Endrick. Neymar, who remains Brazil’s all-time top scorer with an impressive 79 goals in 128 appearances, recently resumed playing with Al Hilal after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Despite being fit, head coach Dorival Junior decided not to include the 32-year-old, citing limited game time since his return. Junior emphasized that Neymar needs more match exposure to fully regain his form and confidence, suggesting that he may be ready for the national squad in the coming year.
Real Madrid’s 18-year-old talent Endrick, who has shown potential with three goals in his first five international appearances, was also left out. Endrick had limited playtime in October’s qualifiers and has struggled for opportunities with his club recently, remaining on the bench for the past three Real Madrid matches.
Meanwhile, Dorival called up six players from domestic clubs, highlighting the importance of local talent in the squad. These include Botafogo’s Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus, Palmeiras’ Estevao, Weverton, Atletico Mineiro’s Guilherme Arana, and Gerson from Flamengo. Brazil, currently fourth in the South American qualifying standings with 16 points, is vying for one of the automatic spots in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With six teams set to qualify automatically and the seventh team heading to a playoff, Brazil aims to strengthen its position in these crucial upcoming games.
The full lineup features familiar names like goalkeepers Ederson and Weverton, defenders Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhaes, and forwards Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
