Thiago and Rayan Receive First Brazil Call-Ups
Igor Thiago and Rayan have made significant impressions for Brentford and Bournemouth this season, leading to their inaugural selections for the Brazil national team.
Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth winger Rayan have been named in Brazil's squad for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia scheduled later this month.
Thiago ranks as the second-highest scorer in the current Premier League season with 19 goals, trailing only Manchester City's Erling Haaland, who has 22. His scoring prowess has been instrumental in Brentford's rise to seventh place in the league table.
The 24-year-old forward joined Brentford in July 2024 for a club-record transfer fee of £30 million from Club Brugge. However, his debut season was hampered by injury, limiting him to eight appearances without scoring.
Rayan, aged 19, transferred to Bournemouth in January for £24.7 million from Vasco de Gama and has contributed two goals in the Premier League so far.
Brazil will face France on 26 March in Boston, followed by a match against Croatia in Orlando on 31 March. These fixtures represent the final matches before coach Carlo Ancelotti announces his World Cup squad.
Former Norwich City attacker Gabriel Sara has also been selected for the first time. However, the squad notably excludes legendary forward Neymar, who remains unfit for selection.
"I haven't called him up because he's not 100 per cent," said Ancelotti regarding the 34-year-old Neymar, who has not featured for Brazil since October 2023.
"But for the final [World Cup] squad, that's another story."
Sara, 26, departed Championship side Norwich for Galatasaray in July 2024 and secured the Turkish Super League title in his first season with the club.
Flamengo centre-back Leo Pereira, 30, is the fourth newcomer in the squad, while striker Endrick has been recalled after his last of 14 international appearances a year ago.
The 19-year-old Endrick joined Lyon on loan from Real Madrid for the latter half of this season and notably scored a hat-trick against Metz in only his second appearance for the French club.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil will begin their tournament campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June. They will also compete against Haiti and Scotland in Group C.
Brazil Squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Fenerbahce)
Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit Saint-Petersburg), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain), Wesley (Roma)
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray)
Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Luiz Henrique (Zenit Saint-Petersburg), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid)
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