From Alex Teixeira to Gabriel: Top 10 Brazilians without international caps

Liverpool’s latest transfer target, Alex Teixeira, is likely to cost them serious money but despite the Brazilian star’s silky footwork and goalscoring ability he is yet to be capped for the Seleção. 
Everything about the Brazilian national team oozes beauty from their alluring football philosophy, famous yellow shirts and World Cup winning reputation.
Therefore, being a special footballer sometimes doesn’t quite guarantee you a place in Brazil’s elite set up – just ask Philipe Coutinho who was excluded from the 2014 World Cup side – as you’re always competing against the best.

Alex Teixeria has scored three goals in the 2015/16 Champions League

Brazil’s selection pool has always been packed with talent and if you’re hoping to break into the fold then you either need to be exceptionally talented, in the right place at the right time or have a very strong haircut like former Manchester City striker Jô.

So, how many others have not yet been called up by the likes of Carlos Alberto Parreira, Luiz Felipe Scolari or Dunga? These names should not be starved of international football and while a few still have plenty of time (like Mr Teixeria) others will never walk out in the yellow and blue uniforms that they watched their heroes destroy multiple amounts of opposition teams in.

Here are the 11 best players never to be capped by Brazil:

Alex Teixeira

Alex Teixeira achieved 90% pass accuracy in this season’s Champions League.

Current club: Shakhtar
Position: Midfielder 
Age: 26
Alex Teixeira has represented Brazil at every youth level and made seven appearances for Brazil U20s, scoring three goals. The Liverpool transfer target was a runner up in the 2009 U20 World Cup and he was also voted the tournament’s second best player. Now aged 26, he would have hoped to have made a senior appearance for the national side – especially after scoring 89 goals in 223 games for Shakhtar – but is currently being kept out by a wealth of midfield creators that the Seleção have at their disposal. A big money move to the Premier League would certainly get him noticed.

Allan

Current club: Napoli
Position: Centre midfielder 
Age: 25
Allan’s midfield play has been exceptional for Napoli this season and he has grabbed three goals in 20 league appearances. His form has helped Napoli rise to the top of the table and also found him a whole host of admirers including reported interest from Barcelona, as reported by Forza Italian Football. Surely it won’t be too long before Dunga sees what he is like wearing the famous yellow shirt although he will have to challenge Fernandinho, Philippe Coutinho and Oscar who will be all standing in his way.

Neto

Current club: Juventus 
Position: Goalkeeper 
Age: 26
The recently purchased Juventus keeper played twice for the Brazil U23 squad but is yet to make up a senior team despite making 101 appearances for Fiorentina. Neto’s move to the reigning Serie A champions could cost him a national team call up in the short term as he has only made one league appearance for the Old Lady but after Gianluigi Buffon finally hangs up his gloves (*weeps*) it could be the 26-year-old’s time to shine.

Jemerson

Jemerson (left).

Current club: Atlético Mineiro  
Position: Centre-back 
Age: 23
Jemerson was picked for Brazil’s FIFA World Cup qualification fixture against Peru in Novemeber 2015 but did not earn himself a cap. The 23-year-old who was called up to replace the suspended David Luiz said he thought the call up was a joke but will now be looking to remove himself from the zero-cap-club very soon. Since his national team call up his defensive services have gathered interest from a number of top european sides.

Nenê

Current club: Vasco Da Gama
Position: Winger 
Age: 34

Nenê will perhaps wonder where he went wrong. The midfielder enjoyed an animated career with Santos, Mallorca, Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and West Ham United but despite being such a consistent performer (maybe not for the latter) he couldn’t do enough to get picked for the national side. He did make four appearances for the Brazil U23 team but despite scoring 123 career goals the senior side did not require his services.

Danilo

Danilo (left).

Current club: Valencia 
Position: Defensive midfielder 
Age: 19
A talented Brazilian starlet Danilo will surely break into the Brazil team set up very soon. The defensive midfielder has worked his way through the U17 national level and played six times for the U20s. He has already made 14 league appearances this season for Valencia and played in four Champions League games. Already established as the first choice holding midfielder, it could be that Luis Gustavo and Fernandinho finally have some competition.

Fernando

Current club: Manchester City
Position: Centre midfield 
Age: 28

Despite playing for Premier League giants Manchester City, Fernando is yet to receive his call up to the national team. He was capped three times at U20 level but his 233 appearances for Porto between 2007-2014 never gathered the Brazil coaches’ attention. The 28-year-old will be hoping he can still break into the Brazil set up but he is currently being kept out by Fernandinho, just like he is at club level.

Gabriel Paulista

Current club: Arsenal
Position: Centre-back 
Age: 25
Given Brazil’s defensive problems (yes, that performance against the Germans), Gabriel is unfortunate to not have received a call up but he still has time. Unfortunately for him, there is only one space alongside Thiago Silva and also faces stiff competition from a host of others. Gabriel has never been capped at any level and will have to start gathering a fair few starts at the Emirates if he wants this to change any time soon.

Raffael

Current club: Borussia Mönchengladbach
Position: Striker 
Age: 30
Given the amount of, shall we say, interesting strikers that Brazil have given chances to over the years it remains a mystery as to why Raffael hasn’t received his call up. The striker has scored 130 goals during his time at Hertha, Zurich and current club Borussia Mönchengladbach. On his day, he is unstoppable and the 30-year-old is currently part of a very decent side that is sitting in the Bundesliga Champions League spots.

Lucas Silva

Current club: Real Madrid (Marseille loan)
Position: Midfielder 
Age: 22

Lucas Silva will be hoping that his move to Real Madrid at such a young age doesn’t hinder his chances of getting into the national set up. Currently on loan at Marseille, the 22-year-old is getting first-team football despite only playing one full league game so far and will hope to return to the Bernabéu as a player who can compete for a place in the side. He has represented Brazil at U23 and U20 level, scoring two goals.