Kaká returns to Brazil national team for friendlies vs. Costa Rica, USA
Orlando City captain Kaká will join the likes of Neymar, Oscar, Willian and David Luiz on Brazil's roster for friendlies against Costa Rica and the U.S. men's national team in the United States next month.
Kaká, who has nine goals and four assists in his first 22 games in MLS, will join Brazil for the Sept. 5 friendly at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., against currently manager-less Costa Rica, after Paulo Wanchope stepped down following a fistfight at a U-23 match in Panama.
Three days later, Brazil takes on the U.S. at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts in the Americans' final tune-up before meeting Mexico in a playoff for CONCACAF's 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup berth.
Kaká made his return to Brazil under manager Dunga but hasn't played for the Selecão since October 2014 in a 4-0 win over Japan. Now 33, he was part of Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning squad as a 20-year-old.
Neymar, who is currently out with the mumps and missed Barcelona's UEFA Super Cup triumph over Sevilla, is fit for the friendlies and leads the attack for Brazil, which hasn't played since being bounced by Paraguay in the Copa America quarterfinals.
Here is Brazil's full squad for both friendlies against its CONCACAF foes:
GOALKEEPERS: Jefferson (Botafogo), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio), Alisson (Internacional)
DEFENDERS: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luiz (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid), Danilo (Real Madrid), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro)
MIDFIELDERS: Luis Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Elias (Corinthians), Ramires (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Willian (Chelsea), Kaká (Orlando City), Lucas Lima (Santos)
FORWARDS: Neymar (Barcelona), Lucas (PSG), Hulk (Zenit), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich)
