By Sedara Oluwadara
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli have been selected for Brazil’s 2022 World Cup squad, as the Selecao aim to bring home the trophy for the first time in 20 years.
The duo have been included in Tite’s 26-man shortlist heading to Qatar to try and win the competition for the sixth time, with Jesus heading to his second World Cup, having started all five of Brazil’s games in 2018 in Russia as they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Belgium.
He currently has 56 caps since his debut in 2016, and has scored 18 goals during that time, helping them to win the 2019 Copa America.
Meanwhile it is a maiden World Cup for Martinelli, who won the first of his three caps against Chile back in March but does have an Olympic gold medal to his name as part of the successful squad in 2020.
They will be part of a star-studded squad featuring a wealth of Premier League talent, with 12 players from these shores heading to Qatar including the likes of Chelsea’s Thiago Silva, goalkeepers Ederson and Alisson of Manchester City and Liverpool respectively, Manchester United trio Antony, Casemiro and Fred and Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United.
Brazil will kick off their campaign against Serbia on Thursday, November 24 before a potential meeting with Granit Xhaka’s Switzerland four days later.
They finish off the group stage by taking on Cameroon on Friday, December 2.
Brazil squad
Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
Defenders: Dani Alves (UNAM), Danilo (Juventus), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Alex Telles (Sevilla), Bremer (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Thiago Silva (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Casemiro (Manchester United), Everton Ribeiro (Flamengo), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham)
Forwards: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).
