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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old joined the West London side for a club-record fee of \u00a330m<\/a> in July 2024 from Club Brugge, but failed to score in his first season with the club as injury restricted him to eight appearances.<\/p>\n “Really proud of what he’s done to get to this point. He’s been here for nearly two years and I’ve seen that journey closely and I know about his overall journey to get to Europe and the Premier League,” said Brentford head coach Keith Andrews, after Monday’s 2-2 draw with Wolves,<\/a> in which Thiago scored.<\/p>\n “Everybody has played a little part in this. We should all be very proud of Thiago’s dream coming true.<\/p>\n “It has been a dream and a huge ambition for him. When he pulls on that iconic jersey it will be a special moment for Thiago and his family and we will feel a sense of pride.”<\/p>\n Rayan, 19, joined Bournemouth in January for \u00a324.7m from Vasco de Gama<\/a> and has scored two Premier League goals.<\/p>\n Brazil face France on 26 March in Boston before playing Croatia in Orlando on 31 March, with the fixtures their last matches before Ancelotti names his World Cup selection.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “I haven’t called him up because he’s not 100 per cent,” coach Carlo Ancelotti said of the 34-year-old, who has not played for his national side since October 2023.<\/p>\n “But for the final [World Cup] squad, that’s another story.” <\/p>\n Sara, 26, left Championship Norwich for Galatasaray in July 2024<\/a> and won the Turkish Super League in his first season with the club.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old joined Lyon on loan from Real Madrid<\/a> for the second half of this season, and scored a hat-trick against Metz<\/a> in his second appearance for the club.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n