Thiago and Rayan receive first Brazil call-ups

Brentford striker Igor Thiago and Bournemouth winger Rayan have received first call-ups to the Brazil squad for their friendlies with France and Croatia later this month.

Former Norwich attacker Gabriel Sara has also been selected for the first time, but the party is missing legendary forward Neymar, who is not fit.

"I haven't called him up because he's not 100 percent," coach Carlo Ancelotti said of the 34-year-old, who has not played for his national side since October 2023.

"But for the final [World Cup] squad, that's another story."

Brazil face France on Tuesday, 26 March in Boston before playing Croatia in Orlando on Thursday, 31 March, with the fixtures their last matches before Ancelotti names his World Cup selection.

Thiago is the second-highest scorer in the Premier League season with 19, trailing only Manchester City's Erling Haaland with 22, with his goals powering Brentford to seventh place in the table.

The 24-year-old joined the West London side for a club-record fee of £30m in July 2024 from Club Brugge, but failed to score in his first season with the club as injury restricted him to eight appearances.

Rayan, 19, joined Bournemouth in January for £24.7m from Vasco de Gama and has scored two Premier League goals.

Sara, 26, left Championship Norwich for Galatasaray in July 2024 and won the Turkish Super League in his first season with the club.

Flamengo centre-back Leo Pereira, 30, is the fourth new name in the line-up, while striker Endrick has been recalled after making the last of his 14 international appearances a year ago.

The 19-year-old joined Lyon on loan from Real Madrid for the second half of this season, and scored a hat-trick against Metz in his second appearance for the club.

Five-time winners Brazil start their World Cup campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on 13 June, and will also face Haiti and Scotland in Group C.