SEATTLE - The clock is ticking for countries participating in this Summer's Copa América 2024. With less than two months to go, teams started to reveal the list of players that will travel to the United States to compete for the continental competition.
Brazil and Mexico were the first countries to do so, and just like with every such decision, the absence of some players has been a topic of conversation.
According to the rules of the competition, teams can select a minimum of 35 players on their provisional list but only 23 will make the final squad.
Brazil
The five-time world champions were the first nation to release their 23-man list. Brazil coach Dorival Júnior had a few surprises on his list, including the absences of Neymar, Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus and Richarlison.
📋🇧🇷 Brazil full list for Copa América 2024.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 10, 2024
Richarlison, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Jesus, Bremer, Carlos Augusto are 𝐎𝐔𝐓. pic.twitter.com/82zqk2mleY
It will be the first time Neymar misses a major tournament with the 'Seleçao' since the Copa América 2019. The Al-Hilal star has been out since October of 2023 with an ACL injury.
Neymar's absence will be a huge blow for the Brazilian national team. Not only is the 32-year-old the player with the second-most games played for the 'Canarinha' with 128, but he is also Brazil's new all-time goal scorer after breaking Pelé's record of 77 goals last September.
After missing Brazil's friendlies in March, Premier League duo Casemiro and Gabriel Jesus will not be part of Dorival Júnior's plans for the Summer.
Teenage sensation Endrick, who has been on the spotlight at a very young age, did make the cut. The 17-year-old made his senior debut for Brazil last November and scored his first goals for the 'Seleçao' against England and Spain during the March international break, becoming the fourth youngest goal scorer for Brazil all-time and the youngest since Ronaldo in 1994.
Mexico
'El Tri' followed Brazil but released a provisional list for Copa América 2024, its 31-man shortlist not including legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. The veteran goalie hasn't missed a major tournament for Mexico since the 2021 Gold Cup, when he was playing with the Olympic team in Tokyo.
One roster, 31 players, 1 goal! ✨
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) May 10, 2024
Here’s @jimmylozano’s squad to represent us this summer. 💚🇲🇽
#ProyecciónTricolor pic.twitter.com/aMrHzdXvGV
'Memo' has been Mexico's first-choice goalkeeper since 2014 and ranks third all-time in games played for 'El Tri' with 151 games, only behind Andrés Guardado (181) and Claudio Suárez (177). Ochoa was Mexico's goalkeeper the last time "El Tri" played in the Copa América, crashing out of the quarterfinals in a historic 7-0 loss to Chile.
Coach Jaime Lozano's 31-man shortlist has an age average of 25 and none have played more than 75 games for Mexico.
Colombian-born Julián Quiñones got the nod ahead of players such as Raúl Jiménez and Henry Martín. Quiñones completed his naturalization process in 2023 and shortly after got his first opportunity with the national team. He has played in three games for Mexico and already scored his first goal in a 3-0 win over Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.
Besides Ochoa and Jiménez, Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano is another important player that will not be part of Jaime Lozano's plans for the Copa América 2024. Despite not being currently injured, Lozano's omission comes as a surprise.
One of the reasons might be to give Lozano time to resolve his future at the club level. Recent reports indicate that 'Chucky' Lozano is close to completing a move to MLS' new expansion team San Diego FC who are set to enter the league ahead of the 2025 season.
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