Ancelotti begins the run-up to 2030 with a major overhaul

Yesterday, Wednesday 9 September 2026, Carlo Ancelotti announced his first squad for the Brazilian national team to kick off the run-up to the 2030 World Cup.

The players will face Australia and India in three friendlies between the end of this month and the start of October.

Ancelotti’s side made a positive start to this year’s World Cup, with victories over Haiti, Scotland and Japan, as well as a draw with Morocco, but were eventually knocked out by Norway in the round of 16.

The legendary Italian manager will aim to lead the five-time World Cup champions – the tournament’s most successful side – to another title in 2030, which will mark 28 years since Brazil’s last World Cup triumph in 2002.

For his first squad selection of the new cycle, Ancelotti has carried out a major overhaul of the squad. Seventeen of the players who travelled to North America for this year’s World Cup have been left out of the squad, with only nine remaining.

Ballon d'Or remains in the national team

Long-serving players of great importance to the national team were left out of the squad, such as goalkeeper Alisson, winner of the Goalkeeper of the Season award in 2019, the 2022 Ballon d’Ballon d'Or nominees Casemiro and Fabinho, as well as the national team’s all-time leading goalscorer and nine-time nominee for the award, Neymar, who announced his retirement from the national team a few months ago.

Despite these changes, the ‘Ballon d'Or’ award remains on Brazil’s first squad list for the new cycle.

Names linked to Ballon d'Or in Ancelotti’s first squad for the new cycle

Carlo Ancelotti – First, there is the legendary Italian manager himself, who won the Manager of the Season award at the 2024 Ballon d'Or for his impressive work at the helm of Real Madrid. The following year, he took charge of the Brazilian national team.

Vinícius Júnior – Vinícius Júnior worked with Ancelotti for several years in Madrid and is now back alongside his former manager, this time with the national team. He put in a number of impressive performances at the World Cup and has just received his fifth nomination for the Ballon d'Or.

Marquinhos – This year, Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos became the player with the most titles won for a single club in history, including his second consecutive Champions League. Thanks to his performances this season, he has just received his second nomination for the ‘Ballon d'Or’.

Gabriel Magalhães – Defender Gabriel Magalhães has just received his first nomination for the ‘Ballon d'Or’, following a superb season with Arsenal, helping the Gunners to their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Raphinha – Although he was not nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year, Barcelona’s versatile forward Raphinha finished in the top five at last year’s ceremony.

Estevão – At the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Estevão was nominated for the Young Male Talent of the Season award after shining for Palmeiras. He has continued to impress since moving to Chelsea, but missed out on this year’s Cup due to injury.

Experience and youth for the new era

Ancelotti will be relying on these players, alongside other experienced members of the national team, to support those making their first-team debuts, in an effort to revitalise and prepare the squad for upcoming continental and international tournaments.

Full list of players called up by Ancelotti for Brazil’s upcoming friendlies

Goalkeepers:

  • Hugo Souza (Corinthians, 27)

  • Otávio (Cruzeiro, 20)

  • Pedro Morisco (Coritiba, 22)

Defenders:

  • Arthur Dias (Athletico Paranaense, 19)

  • Douglas Santos (Zenit St Petersburg, 32)

  • Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal, 28)

  • Jair (Nottingham Forest, 21)

  • Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, 32)

  • Matheuzinho (Corinthians, 26)

  • Mauro Júnior (PSV Eindhoven, 27)

  • Vitor Reis (Manchester City, 20)

  • Wesley (Roma, 23)

Midfielders:

  • Andrey Santos (Manchester United, 22)

  • Breno Bidon (Corinthians, 21)

  • Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal, 28)

  • Danilo Santos (Botafogo, 25)

  • Douglas Luiz (Juventus, 28)

  • Gabriel Bontempo (Santos, 21)

Forwards:

  • Endrick (Real Madrid, 20)

  • Estêvão (Chelsea, 19)

  • João Pedro (Chelsea, 24)

  • Pedro (Flamengo, 29)

  • Raphinha (Barcelona, 29)

  • Rayan (Bournemouth, 20)

  • Samuel Lino (Flamengo, 26)

  • Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, 26)