Neymar Ruled Out of Brazil Squad, Real Madrid’s Endrick Called Up

The Brazilian Football Confederation has officially announced the call-up of Endrick, the young Real Madrid striker, to replace Neymar da Silva, who has been ruled out due to injury. This adjustment comes ahead of Brazil’s crucial World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina.

Neymar, who was set to return to the national team after a lengthy absence due to a knee injury sustained in late 2023, suffered yet another setback with a muscle injury, forcing him to miss the upcoming matches.

Brazil’s Squad Adjustments

Head coach Dorival Júnior has made further changes to the squad, bringing in:

• Alex Sandro (Flamengo) to replace Danilo.
• Lucas Perri (Olympique Lyon) to fill in for Ederson (Manchester City), who is also sidelined due to injury.

In an official statement, Dorival Júnior commented:

“The national team’s medical staff assessed all players over the past few days. After careful evaluation, we decided to call up Endrick, Alex Sandro, and Lucas Perri to reinforce the squad.”

Brazil’s Qualification Campaign

Brazil currently sits fifth in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers, with 18 points from 12 matches. The top six teams will earn direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The Seleção will host Colombia on March 21, followed by a high-stakes clash against Argentina five days later—both matches crucial for securing a qualification spot.

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