Brazil have called up teenage Real Madrid striker Endrick to replace the injured Neymar for this month's World Cup qualifiers, the country's FA announced on Friday. Santos forward Neymar was set to make his return to the Brazil team after more than a year on the sidelines due to a knee injury suffered in late 2023.

Neymar's return to action for Brazil will be delayed yet longer after the forward was ruled out of his country's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Friday due to a thigh injury.

Expectations were sky-high after Neymar was included in Brazil's 23-man roster for the upcoming Conmebol World Cup qualifier games against Colombia and Argentina. However, the former Barcelona player has been nursing a left thigh injury and a decision was taken to leave Neymar out of the squad for the upcoming games.