Copa America 2019: The Brazil XI that won’t feature in the competition

Striker: Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Vini is still only 18, so he wouldn't mind...

Had the 18-year old wonderkid been plying his trade with any other side that wasn’t struggling last season, then he would’ve certainly been in Brazil’s 23-man squad.

With the Merengues enduring a catastrophic time all season, Vinicius Junior’s transfer seems very ill-timed. But he nevertheless caught attention with promising displays, making 12 assists and scoring seven times in all competitions - an encouraging debut campaign for someone of his age and in an atmosphere as hostile as at Real Madrid.

And all of this despite missing a large chunk of the home stretch of the campaign due to an unfortunate ligament rupture that kept him out of action from March to May, missing nine games in all. This is why he’s probably not in Tite’s squad right now.

Striker: Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur)

Moura's omission has irked the Spurs fans

Just wondering what more could have Lucas Moura done to warrant a place in the Brazil squad after such a fantastic season: 1) Stepped up to the plate in the absence of Harry Kane 2) Scored a hattrick in the semi-finals of the Champions League to lift Tottenham from the jaws of defeat and propel into the finals 3) Finished the season with 15 goals despite starting only 33 games in all competitions.

Yet, he’s forced to contend with watching his side play on home soil from the comforts of his home. Moura would be hard-pressed at such a prospect.

Despite earning only four international caps in the last four years, he did his best this season to lay a strong claim for a spot but sees Ajax’s promising youngster David Neres and the much-maligned Willian called up for the right-wing role, where he normally operates from with the Selecao.