Neymar, Endrick Left Out of Brazil Squad

Brazil's national football team will not feature veteran forward Neymar and young talent Endrick in their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay. Coach Dorival Júnior stated that while Neymar has recovered from a serious knee injury, he has had limited playing time since returning to Al Hilal, which influenced the decision to exclude him. Endrick, who has struggled for game time at Real Madrid, also did not make the squad, prompting Júnior to call up 17-year-old Estevao instead. Brazil currently sits fourth in the South American qualifying standings, six points behind leaders Argentina. The top six teams will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and the seventh will enter an inter-continental playoff. Júnior emphasized the importance of player activity at their clubs when selecting the squad.