The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) announced the 26-man squad that will represent A Seleção at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil head coach Tite boasts a star-studded squad and the record five-time World Cup winners are widely considered the favourites to go all the way and taste success in Qatar. This will be a second World Cup under the 61-year-old coach after Brazil exited from the quarter-finals in Russia 2018.
Tite’s men stormed to qualification with 14 wins and zero defeats in their 17 games, finishing top of the CONMEBOL standings and 6 points clear of rivals Argentina.
Brazil is the only nation to partake in every World Cup tournament since its inception and the quality in depth among Brazilian players is unmatched by most other nations participating in the 22nd edition of the event. The men in yellow are the most recent South American winners of the World Cup – 20 years ago in South Korea & Japan – with the stars of yesteryear such as Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldo Nazário.
(Photo by Antonio Scorza/AFP via Getty Images)
– Goalkeepers
In goal, Alisson and Ederson continue to battle for the #1 jersey at national level with both competitors among the best goalkeepers in the world. The Liverpool and Manchester City keepers won or shared the Premier League Golden Glove in each of the past four seasons. It looks as though Alisson may just be currently ahead in the pecking order.
Weverton has also been selected for the World Cup, but the Palmeiras goalie may struggle for minutes in Qatar. In World Cup qualifiers, Alisson kept six clean sheets in eight matches, Ederson kept four shutouts in his five games, and Weverton managed three clean sheets out of four.
– Defenders
Brazil captain and veteran Thiago Silva has been called up to a fourth World Cup tournament, and at 38 years-old the Chelsea man still appears to be on top of his game. Silva, 38, should be adequately supplemented by fellow centre-halves Marquinhos (PSG), Eder Militão (Real Madrid), and Bremer (Juventus).
At full-back, another veteran has been given the nod with Dani Alves set to appear at a third World Cup event. The 39-year-old currently plays for Club Universidad Nacional in Mexico, and he is to become the oldest outfield player to appear for Brazil at a World Cup.
Alex Telles (Sevilla), Alex Sandro and Danilo (both Juventus) have also been included in the squad heading to Qatar.
39-year-old Dani Alves will become the oldest Brazilian player at a World Cup 😮
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 7, 2022
Djalma Santos previously held the record at 37 years old from the 1966 tournament 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/uEB8kf0bGp
– Midfielders
Tite has selected just five out-and-out midfielders, with all of them based in the English Premier League, but there is no shortage of quality in the quintet of Casemiro, Fabinho, Fred, Bruno Guimarães, and Lucas Paquetá.
Paquetá (West Ham) was involved in more WC qualifiers than any other Brazil midfielder, starting 11 of the 14 matches he played in. Casemiro (Man United) started and finished all but two of the nine games he featured in, while his club teammate Fred played in eight qualifiers at an average of 74 minutes per appearance.
Fabinho (Liverpool) started six out of nine qualifying games and Guimarães, 24, started just twice in six games.
Vinícius Jr. and Lucas Paquetá are also joining Brazil in the 2022 FIFA World Cup 🇧🇷
— Flamengo (@Flamengo_en) November 7, 2022
Congrats to the boys from Ninho 👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/pirM8J8TyD
– Forwards
The amount of firing power in Brazil’s ranks is genuinely frightening and there should be no lack of goals for the men in yellow.
Neymar (Paris St-Germain) had more direct goal involvements than any South American player in WC qualifiers; the stylish forward notched eight goals and eight assists in 10 matches. Beyond Neymar there is still a flurry of flair and creativity within the Brazil forward line; Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo (both Real Madrid) have become key men for their club and they are looking to fill important roles for national team as well.
Arsenal duo Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have been firing on all cylinders, while Man United winger Antony and Raphinha of Barcelona further strengthen Brazil’s attack. Tottenham striker Richarlison is yet to return from a calf injury but the 25-year-old has been selected and is expected to be fit in time for the World Cup in under two weeks. Richarlison scored six goals in eight WC qualifiers.
(Photo by Carl de Souza/AFP via Getty Images)
Almost half of Brazil’s World Cup squad currently play club football in the Premier League, with 12 of the 26-strong group signed to teams in the English top flight.
The most notable omissions are Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino and Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhães. Gabriel, 25, has played an integral role for Arsenal, particularly this season with the Gunners top of the table, and the defender has scored three goals and kept five clean sheets this season.
Firmino has also been regularly involved for Liverpool, with the Reds enduring a substantial injury crisis, but he could not land a spot in Brazil’s World Cup squad despite his six goals and three assists this term. Former Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho was also snubbed of a seat on the plane to the Middle East.
Brazil are 5.00 to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as per Bet365.
