RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar has been omitted from Brazil’s squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti on Monday for this ​month’s friendlies, as the five-time world champions continue their preparations ‌for the 2026 World Cup.

Brazil is set to play France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando ahead of the tournament in the ​United States, Mexico and Canada.

Neymar’s absence comes after the 34-year-old ​missed a recent match for Santos because of muscle ⁠fatigue, scuppering plans for Ancelotti to assess him in person during a ​scouting trip ahead of the squad announcement.

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with ​79 goals, has not played for the national team since suffering a serious knee injury in October 2023 and has struggled to maintain a consistent run of matches ​since returning to Santos last year.

“Neymar can be at the World ​Cup if he’s 100,”pc Ancelotti told reporters on Monday after announcing his squad. “I didn’t ‌call him ⁠up because he’s not 100pc. Neymar has to be training and playing.”

The Italian manager, however, has called up 19-year-old Endrick, who returns to international action for the first time in almost a year, and handed a ​first call-up to ​Brentford’s Igor Thiago ⁠as Brazil look to refresh their attacking options.

Brazil will play another friendly against Egypt in June before beginning ​their Group C World Cup campaign against Morocco on ​June 13.

Brazil ⁠squad:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahce)

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

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

Forwards: Endrick (Olympique Lyonnais), Igor ​Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St Petersburg), Rayan (Bournemouth), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Jr (Real ​Madrid).

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