A teenager to Selecao's rescue: Endrick in the national team for the first time

The start was perfect (two wins), the continuation was disappointing (a point out of two games), so Brazil turned to some 'fresh blood' in the continuation of the World Cup 2026 qualifiers. And they called a teenager to help them - Endrick is on the list of coach Fernando Diniz for the first time since he started playing football.

The talented striker of Palmeiras, who drew attention two years ago, was in the meantime bought by Real Madrid for 37,500,000 euros and next June he will appear at Santiago Bernabeu. Until then, he will potentially debut for Seleção, maybe against Colombia on November 17 or five days later when the big derby with Argentina is scheduled in Rio de Janeiro.

Endrick has scored eight goals for Palmeiras this season and as time passes, he is increasingly freed from the constraints that have followed him since he agreed to work with the Royal Club. The coach believes in him, and that's why, at 17 years and three months old, he became the youngest player on Brazil's roster since Ronaldo back in 1993.

"Endrick has the talent to be one of the best in the world. I don't know if he will justify it, but this call is a reward for everything he has done so far. The guy was born in 2006 and he caught my attention," Diniz said.

Besides Endrick, three other new players are on his roster. And they are all strikers: Joao Pedro, the current Brighton striker (once of Fluminense), Paulinho from Atletico Mineiro, and Pepe, who scores goals for Porto. All of them were members of the Olympic selection, but they never got a chance among the senior squad

Unlike the October cycle, Douglas Luiz returns to the selection, although in the meantime he criticized Diniz for not calling him. There is no injured Neymar, Casemiro and Danilo on the list, Lucas Paqueta is absent due to non-sporting activities, while the national team coach called the currently injured Gabriel Jesus in the attack, in the hope that Arsenal's striker will recover for the next matches, and again skipped Richarlison and Mateus Cunha.

Retirement home 'Fluminense' and the two to whom the title meant the most

BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Lucas Perry (Botafogo);

Defenders: Bremer (Juventus), Gabriel (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Nino (Fluminense), Emerson Royal (Tottenham), Carlos Augusto (Inter), Renan Lodi (Marseille);

Midfielders: Andre (Fluminense), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Joelinton (Newcastle), Rafael Vega (Palmeiras), Rodrygo (Real);

Forwards: Endrick (Palmeiras), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Joao Pedro (Brighton), Paulinho (Atletico Mineiro), Pepe (Porto), Raphinha (Barcelona) and Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).