Brazil World Cup squad 2022: Neymar, Vinicius Junior and Gabriel Jesus among nine forwards

Manager Tite names attacking line-up for finals in Qatar

HOW BRAZIL QUALIFIED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: October 9, 2020. Brazil 5 (Marquinhos 16', Firmino 30', 49', Carrasco og 66', Coutinho 73') Bolivia 0: Brazil were up and running in style with Roberto Firmino and Phillipe Coutinho among the scorers in a rout of Bolivia. "There's always room for improvement, what's important is getting used to playing together," Brazil captain Casemiro said. "We'll adapt better as we play more games. That's what is important. We deserve congratulations today." Getty

October 13, 2020. Peru 2 (Carrillo 6', Tapia 59') Brazil 4 (Neymar pen 28', pen 83', 90 + 2', Richarlison 64'): Neymar hit a hat-trick to reach 64 goals for Brazil and move second behind Pele in their all-time top goalscorer list, moving ahead of Ronaldo in a match that saw two Peru players sent off late on. Manager Tite said of Neymar: "He's a player who both makes and takes chances. And he gets better and better, and more mature." Getty

November 13, 2020. Brazil 1 (Firmino 66') Venezuela 0: Three wins on the spin for Brazil but a far from convincing performance in Sao Paulo, with a team missing the likes of Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Fabinho. "We were able to compete and do them damage for a while,” said Venezuelan midfielder Luis Mago. “We made one mistake and paid a heavy price for it." AFP

November 17, 2020. Uruguay 0 Brazil 2 (Arthur 33', Richarlison 45'): First-half goals from Arthur and Richarlison maintained Covid and injury-hit Brazil's 100 per cent record against a Uruguay team they had not lost against since 2001. Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani was shown a straight red for a challenge on Richarlison following a VAR review. EPA

June 4, 2021. Brazil 2 (Richarlison 65' Neymar pen 90+4') Ecuador 0: Brazil made it five wins from five in a comfortable victory. The match was overshadowed by players and manager Tite being unhappy about Brazil hosting the upcoming Copa America as people were being killed by Covid in large numbers. Asked whether he could leave the job, Tite said: "You can raise any hypothesis, I only ask you to be careful. I will express it when it matters. Not now. This was a tough match against Ecuador." Getty

June 8, 2021. Paraguay 0 Brazil 2 (Neymar 4' Paqueta 90+3'): Brazil had not beaten Paraguay away from home since 1985 but an early goal from Neymar and a late one from Paqueta ended that run to make it six wins from six. “We knew how hard it is to come here,” defender Marquinhos said. “We’re delighted to open up a gap with the second-placed team in the table.” EPA

September 2, 2021. Chile 0 Brazil 1 (Ribeiro 64'): Everton Ribeiro came off the bench to secure a barely deserved victory for Tite's men, who had Gabriel Jesus sent off for an atrocious kung-fu-style challenge on Eugenio Mena. Neymar said: "Chile are a good team, they have great players and it is very difficult with a man less. Everyone deserves praise, the defence, the midfield, the forwards. It was a big test for us." AP

September 5, 2021. Brazil v Argentina (match abandoned): Chaotic scenes as the match was called-off after five minutes when Brazilian health officials invaded the pitch to stop Argentina's England-based players from playing, saying they had breached the country's Covid-19 quarantine rules. “They had 72 hours before the match. They had to do it at the time of the match.” Tite shouted at officials on the pitch. Reuters

September 9, 2021. Brazil 2 (Ribeiro 15', Neymar 40') Peru 0: The ninth home qualifier in a row in which Brazil kept a clean sheet, and their eighth win from eight Qatar 2022 qualifiers. "These three games we lacked a lot of players that meant others had a chance and they stepped up," said captain Casemiro. "I think we are on the right track." AFP

October 7, 2021. Venezuela 1 (Ramirez 11') Brazil 3 (Marquinhos 71', Barbosa pen 85', Antony 90 + 5'): Three second-half goals saw Brazil recover from a goal down and maintain their 100 per cent record, extending their lead at the top of qualifying to eight points. "It was a complicated match, we started well below [the level] we are accustomed to," Marquinhos said. "It's hard to get a result but results are what count." Reuters

October 10, 2021. Colombia 0 Brazil 0: The winning run comes to an end but Brazil remain on track for Qatar. Tite came to the defence of Neymar after the game. "He is an exceptional player because he makes exceptional plays, he does it exceptionally and not ordinarily," Brazil's coach said. "He is a special player, we know it. And he was also well marked, sometimes by two players." EPA

October 14, 2021. Brazil 4 (Neymar 10', Raphinha 18', 58', Barbosa 83') Uruguay 1 (Suarez 77'): Leeds winger Raphinha grabbed a double as Brazil cruised to an impressive victory. "This couldn't be more memorable for me," Raphinha said. "This is me fulfilling my childhood dream. It's so gratifying to score. It's going to be very difficult to forget this night." AFP

November 11, 2021. Brazil 1 (Paqueta 72') Colombia 0: Three points for Brazil saw them become the first South American team to qualify for Qatar. The game also marked their 10th consecutive home qualifier without conceding a goal. “I cried of happiness [after scoring] because of this moment I am living at the national team and at my club Lyon. This came from a lot of joy, joy for this work well done," Lucas Paqueta said.

November 16, 2021. Argentina 0 Brazil 0: Argentina joined Brazil in Qatar after this draw. Brazil coach Tite felt Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi should have been punished for elbowing winger Raphinha. "It is impossible not to see Otamendi's elbow on Raphinha. A high quality VAR official cannot work this way," he said. "It's inconceivable. Inconceivable is not the word I want to use. I am using that word because I am polite." AFP

January 27, 2022. Ecuador 1 (Torres 75') Brazil 1 (Casemiro 6'): Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was sent off twice only for the VAR to rescind both red cards in this draw. Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez was dismissed, though, as was Brazil full-back Emerson Royal. Alisson said: "If there was no VAR, today we would be unfairly penalised for several situations on the pitch. I touched the ball, that's evident to everyone." Getty

February 1, 2022. Brazil 4 (Raphinha 28', Coutinho 62', Antony 86', Rodrygo 88') Paraguay 0: Brazil scored twice in the last four minutes, including a first international goal for Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, to seal an easy win. The win extended to 61 matches their unbeaten home record in World Cup qualifiers and ended Paraguay's hopes of reaching Qatar. AFP

March 24, 2022. Brazil 4 (Neymar pen 44', Vinicius Junior 45'+1', Coutinho pen 72', Richarlison 90'+1') Chile 0: Former Flamengo player Vinicius Junior celebrated a return to the Maracana stadium with his first international goal. "At the Maracana with my family, there was nowhere better to score my first international goal," he said. "I'm very happy. It's our last game in Brazil before the World Cup and we are going to thank the fans." AFP

Tuesday, March 29, 2022. Bolivia 0 Brazil 4 (Paqueta 24', Richarlison 45', 90'+1', Guimaraes 66'): A superb performance from Brazil meant Tite's team reached 45 points, a new World Cup qualifying record. "Yes, [the team exceeded] any expectations I could have on the performance, in both qualitative and quantitative terms," Tite said. AP

Brazil have included nine forwards in their 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar that starts this month.

The five-time winners have included 12 players from the English Premier League in the squad ahead of their Group G matches against Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon.

Manager Tito read out his selection at the Brazilian football confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, narrowing down his list from a group of 55 players.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar, 30, will be spearheading Brazil's attack in a list that features a host of young talent including Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal and Manchester United's Antony.

Tottenham’s Richarlison, Rodrygo of Real Madrid and Barcelona's Raphinha are also part of the enviable options at Tite’s disposal for the tournament that kicks off on November 20. Striker Gabriel Jesus also makes the cut despite having gone eight games without a goal for Arsenal.

Dani Alves, the 39-year-old former Barcelona right-back, was included in the list – which features eight defenders and six midfielders – as well as Chelsea’s 38-year-old Thiago Silva.

Manchester United midfielders Casemiro and Fred will be hoping to earn starting roles, with competition from Liverpool’s Fabinho, Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United and West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta.

There was no place for Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino, with the 31-year-old having not featured for his country since the Copa America final in July 2021, or Arsenal defender Gabriel.

The squad will gather on November 14 at Juventus' training facilities in Turin, where Brazil will hold a five-day training camp before flying to Doha five days later.

Brazil open their World Cup campaign against Serbia on November 24. They then face Switzerland on November 28 before taking on Cameroon on December 2.