'I don't have time for him' — Shock as Brazil boss drops Real Madrid star from 23-man squad

Brazilian national team coach Dorival Junior has explained why Real Madrid's teenage sensation Endrick was left out of the latest squad.

Endrick, 18, has struggled to find his footing at Real Madrid, and his absence from Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay comes as no surprise.

Dorival Junior shed light on his decision, citing Endrick's limited playing time at Real Madrid as the main reason.

"We have no time for training or time to make players return in good form," he said.

In essence, Dorival is prioritizing players who are consistently performing well at their clubs. "Are they performing or not? That's the question to answer," he emphasized.

Endrick's omission isn't a permanent setback, but rather a chance for him to focus on establishing himself at Real Madrid.

With time and more minutes on the pitch, he'll likely reclaim his spot in Brazil's national team.

Brazil are 4th in 2026 World Cup qualifying, after an indifferent start to the campaign, and it is clear Dorival is prioritising form over status.