Igor Thiago Earns First Brazil Call-Up as Neymar Misses Squad

Brentford striker Igor Thiago has received his first senior Brazil call-up for upcoming friendlies against France and Croatia, while Neymar has been left out of the squad due to injury. The call-up recognizes Thiago’s impressive form in the Premier League this season.

Thiago’s Rise to Prominence

The 24-year-old Igor Thiago is currently the second-highest scorer in the Premier League with 19 goals in 30 appearances as of March 16, 2026, trailing only Erling Haaland of Manchester City, who has 22 goals [Source: The New York Times]. His performance has propelled Brentford to seventh place in the Premier League table.

Thiago joined Brentford in July 2024 for a club-record fee of £30 million from Club Brugge [Source: The New York Times]. He initially faced challenges, with injuries limiting him to eight appearances in his first season with the club. Brentford head coach Keith Andrews praised Thiago’s journey, stating, “Really proud of what he’s done to acquire to this point… I’ve seen that journey closely and I know about his overall journey to get to Europe and the Premier League.” [Source: The New York Times]

Other New Faces in the Brazil Squad

Alongside Thiago, three other players have received their first call-ups to the Brazilian national team: Bournemouth striker Rayan, Flamengo defender Leo Pereira, and Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara [Source: The New York Times]. Real Madrid forward Endrick, currently on loan at Lyon, also returns to the squad.

Neymar’s Absence and Ancelotti’s Perspective

Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, will miss the friendlies due to ongoing fitness concerns. Coach Carlo Ancelotti explained, “I haven’t called him up because he’s not 100 per cent,” but added, “But for the final [World Cup] squad, that’s another story.” [Source: The New York Times]. Neymar has not played for Brazil since October 2023, following an ACL injury.

Lucas Paqueta is also absent from the squad, having recently moved to Flamengo from West Ham United.

Upcoming Fixtures and World Cup Preparations

Brazil will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando. These matches serve as crucial preparation for the 2026 World Cup, where Brazil will begin their campaign against Morocco in New Jersey on June 13, also facing Haiti and Scotland in Group C [Source: The New York Times].

Igor Thiago – Player Profile

Born on June 26, 2001, in Gama, Brazil, Igor Thiago Nascimento Rodrigues stands at 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and plays as a Centre-Forward for Brentford [Source: Transfermarkt]. He has a market value of €50.00m as of March 17, 2026 [Source: Transfermarkt]. His career includes stints at Cruzeiro, Ludogorets Razgrad, and Club Brugge before joining Brentford in 2024 [Source: Wikipedia].