New Delhi: Neymar hopes to earn a call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad despite being excluded from the national team for friendlies against France and Croatia later this month.

Fitness woes after a series of injuries have prevented prevented Neymar from playing for Brazil since October 2023.

The 34-year-old produced a subdued performance for Santos in a 1-1 draw with Corinthians on Sunday and subsequently was left out of the Brazil squad that will face France on March 26 in Boston and Croatia on March 31 in Orlando.

“Neymar is not at 100% and therefore he is not on the list,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said.

“Neymar is not at 100% of his capability. If he can be at 100% physically, he can be there. Neymar could be at the World Cup. Neymar has to keep working, playing, showcasing his qualities and maintaining good physical condition.”

It has left Neymar fighting against the clock to play in his fourth World Cup after being left out of from all of Ancelotti’s squads since the Italian took charge in June.

Ancelotti will announce the Brazil squad for the 48-team tournament on May 18 and Neymar, the country’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, said he will keep working to find favour.

“Thank you all for the kind messages today! Trust the process; whatever will be, will be! Work in silence,” Neymar wrote on Instagram.

“I’m going to speak out here, because I can’t just let this pass,” he later told during a live broadcast of Kings League game.

“Obviously I’m upset and sad not to have been selected. But the focus remains the same, day after day, training session after training session, match after match.

“We’ll achieve our goal. There’s still one final squad announcement to go and the dream lives on. That’s it, we’re in this together.”

Endrick was called up for the first time by Ancelotti after impressing since his move to French side Lyon from Real Madrid.

“We are preparing well for this World Cup. We want to arrive in the best possible condition technically, physically and mentally,” Ancelotti said.

“There are players who deserve to be here because they are doing well in their respective leagues.”

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al Nassr), Éderson (Fenerbahce).

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Ibañez (Al-Ahly), Léo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG), Wesley (Roma).

Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Gabriel Sara (Galatasaray).

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid), João Pedro (Chelsea).