By Martin Graham
Brentford forward Igor Thiago has been rewarded with his first senior brazil selection before the next friendlies against France i Croatia at the end of this month. The 24-year-old has enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring 19 goals in La Liga and sitting just behind the division’s top scorer, Erling Haaland. His contributions have played a key role in lifting Brentford to seventh in the table.
Thiago’s rise has been particularly remarkable given his difficult start in England. After arriving from Club Brugge for a record £30m in July 2024, injuries limited him to just eight appearances in his debut season, during which he failed to find the net.
Head coach Keith Andrews praised the striker’s development after Brentford’s 2-2 draw with Wolves, a game in which Thiago scored. He highlighted the player’s journey and the collective effort behind his progress, highlighting how important this milestone is to both Thiago and those around him.
Andrews also stressed the emotional significance of the call, describing it as the fulfillment of a great ambition. He noted that representing Brazil would be a proud and memorable occasion for the forward and his family.
Rayan and Sara add new faces to Ancelotti’s squad
Bournemouth extreme Ryan is another newcomer included in the squad. The 19-year-old joined the club in January from Vasco da Gama for £24.7m and has already scored twice in the Premier League, earning recognition at international level.
Former Norwich man Gabriel Sara has also received his first call-up. The 26-year-old moved to Galatasaray in July 2024 and won the Turkish Super League title in his debut season with the club.
Defender Leo Pereira completes the list of new additions. The 30-year-old Flamengo centre-back joins the squad as Brazil prepare for the final matches before the World Cup squad is confirmed.
Meanwhile, young striker Endrick returns to the national set-up after a year’s absence. Now on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid, the 19-year-old made an immediate impact by scoring a hat-trick in just his second appearance for the French side.
Neymar is absent as Brazil prepares for key matches
Brazil will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. These games represent the last chance for the players to impress before Carlo Ancelotti names his World Cup squad.
Notably absent from the squad is Neymar, who has not been part of the national team since October 2023. Ancelotti explained that the forward was left out due to fitness issues, claiming that he is not yet fully ready for international duty.
However, the manager left the door open to a possible return, suggesting Neymar could still be considered for the World Cup depending on his condition.
Brazil will begin their world campaign on June 13 in New Jersey against Morocco. They will also face Haiti and Scotland in Group C as they look to add to their record five tournament wins.
