Veteran forward Neymar and Real Madrid teenager Endrick have been omitted from Brazil's squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay, the Brazilian Football Confederation said on Friday.
Neymar, Brazil's all-time top scorer with 79 goals in 128 international matches, returned to action for his club Al Hilal last month, almost a year to the day after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament, reported Xinhua.
Brazilians manager Dorival Junior said it was too soon to recall the 32-year-old for the away clash with Venezuela on November 14 and the home fixture against Uruguay five days later.
"He is fully recovered, but he has had just a few minutes of play, and that was a big reason," Dorival said at a news conference. "By next year, he will have had more time playing, he will totally recover his confidence."
Brazil forward Endrick, who scored three goals in his first five international outings, played just 26 minutes in Brazil's October qualifiers against Chile and Peru.
He has also competed for playing time with Real Madrid, who have not started him as an unused substitute in any of the Spanish club's last three games.
Dorival picked six players from local clubs: Luiz Henrique from Botafogo, Igor Jesus from Botafogo, Estevao from Palmeiras, Weverton from Palmeiras, Guilherme Arana from Atletico Mineiro and Gerson from Flamengo.
Brazil is currently fourth in the 10-team South American qualifying zone standings with 16 points from 10 games, six points behind leaders Argentina.
The top six teams will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The seventh-placed team will go into an inter-continental play-off.
Brazil team:
Goalkeepers:
Weverton (Palmeiras), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City).
Defenders:
Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Abner (Lyon), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Murillo (Nottingham Forest), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain).
Midfielders: Andre (Wolverhampton), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Raphinha (Barcelona).
Forwards: Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Estevao (Palmeiras), Savinho (Manchester City).
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