Vasco’s Rayan in Brazil’s squad after impressing in England

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Papo na Colina

·9 March 2026

Vasco’s Rayan in Brazil’s squad after impressing in England

If football is guided by technical form, coach Carlo Ancelotti has proven to be attentive to the performance of athletes in Europe. The expectation was confirmed and the Brazilian National Team will have new faces in its last call-up before the final squad for the World Cup. The big highlight in the preliminary list for the friendlies against France and Croatia is forward Rayan, a product of the Vasco da Gama youth academy.

The CBF sent the mandatory notice to clubs with eligible players last Friday, following the formal requirement of FIFA. The final list, made up of 26 names, will be revealed next Monday in Rio de Janeiro.

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The forward developed by Vasco earned his spot after a stunning start in the Premier League playing for Bournemouth. The 19-year-old already has two goals and one assist in six matches, even receiving an official nomination for the Player of the Month award for February. This is the first time the player appears in Ancelotti’s squad, who needs to find viable alternatives to make up for the serious absence of Rodrygo, ruled out of the World Cup due to a knee injury.

+ Ex-Vasco, Rayan receives status as the most feared striker in England

The battle for the attack and the performance of rivals

The Italian coach wants to closely observe two other forwards before deciding on his number 9. Igor Thiago is one of those favored by the technical staff. The player has scored 19 goals this season for Brentford, 18 of them in the English league, trailing only Haaland’s 22 goals. The former Cruzeiro player is gaining momentum behind the scenes due to Richarlison’s poor form, who has scored only one goal in 2026.

Another strong name for the offensive sector is Endrick. The young striker transferred from Real Madrid to Lyon with Carleto’s approval and made an immediate impact in French football. In ten games, he has eight direct contributions: five goals and three assists. The coach maintains direct contact with his former player, and Endrick’s chances of making the final National Team list are considered huge.

Vasco’s youth product has already shone in youth national teams – Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Observations for the defensive line

The defensive system will also be tested during the tour in the United States. The injury to Éder Militão and the inconsistent form of Alexsandro Ribeiro at Lille led the coach to call up Léo Pereira and Bremer for the preliminary list. In a sector where Marquinhos and Gabriel Magalhães have guaranteed spots, and names like Danilo and Fabrício Bruno enjoy great prestige, the competition remains open. The tendency is that five defenders will be called up.

The squad will gather in Orlando on March 23. The group will travel to face France on the 26th, in Boston, and return to Florida to take on Croatia on the 31st. The final call-up for the World Cup is scheduled for May 19.

Vasco fans’ longing for Rayan

The leap from São Januário to the demanding European stage usually requires patience, but Vasco’s jewel skipped the adaptation steps. Recently sold in the transfer window in a vital operation to give the Rio team’s finances a breather, Rayan immediately proved that the club’s strong youth system prepared him to withstand the high physical intensity of the land of the King.

More than focusing on the excellent statistics that put him in the spotlight so early, it is the personality he has shown against established defenders that evokes a feeling of longing mixed with pride in Rio de Janeiro.

While the board continues the arduous process of restructuring the squad for the Brazilian Championship, the stands watch from afar. Seeing the talent that just a few months ago kissed the Maltese cross now fighting for a place in the world’s biggest football tournament is absolute confirmation of the formative DNA of the Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama.