AFC Bournemouth forward Rayan has officially received his first call-up to the Brazil national football team, after being included in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad for the upcoming international friendlies.
As the Brazilian press anticipated, the 19-year-old is one of the main new names in the squad selected for matches against France national football team and Croatia national football team in the United States later this month.
His inclusion follows a strong start to life in the Premier League with Bournemouth, and the Italian coach made a point of praising the young attacker during his press conference after announcing the squad.
“Very powerful, he has quality and a good attitude on the pitch,” Ancelotti said when discussing the Bournemouth player.
“He has presented himself very well in a difficult league and he is young. He certainly has a future in the national team. I don’t know if in the next World Cup, but for what he is doing, for the coaching staff, he deserves to be here.”
Why call him now
Ancelotti also explained the thinking behind bringing younger or less experienced players into the Brazil squad.
The Italian made it clear that the technical level of those players is already well understood by the coaching staff. Instead, international call-ups often serve as a way to evaluate how they fit into the national team environment.
“When we call new players it is not because we want to see how they perform on the pitch – we already know that,” Ancelotti said.
“We want to know how they integrate into our environment, their character. With every new player that is what we want to see.”
The Brazil manager also stressed that the staff already have extensive evaluations on both players selected and those who remain outside the squad.
“We know perfectly how they are playing, because we have evaluations of every player who is and is not on the list,” he explained.
For Ancelotti, the current call-up also rewards performance.
“At a technical level we already know them. But in terms of character I want to know more. And there are players who deserve to be here because they are performing well in their leagues, like Rayan.”
Premier League impact earns Brazil chance
Rayan’s rapid rise in England played a key role in convincing Brazil’s coaching staff.
Since arriving from Vasco, the attacker has made a striking start in the Premier League. He has scored two goals and provided one assist in his first seven appearances for Bournemouth.
Across all competitions for Bournemouth so far, the youngster has registered two goals and one assist in seven matches, numbers that underline the immediate impact he has made after arriving in English football.
Those performances quickly placed him on Brazil’s radar. Earlier reports from Brazil had already indicated that the coaching staff held a strong internal appreciation for the youngster and had been monitoring his development closely.
From an analytical perspective, his attacking output also helps explain the excitement around him. According to data from FBref, Rayan is averaging close to 2.3 shots per 90 minutes in the Premier League so far, with roughly 1.2 of those attempts hitting the target.
He is also producing around 1.4 key passes per 90, showing an ability to create chances for teammates in addition to scoring himself.
The numbers also highlight his direct style. Rayan is attempting more than three dribbles per match, with a success rate hovering around 55%, which places him among Bournemouth’s most aggressive ball carriers in the final third.
His early Premier League impact ultimately proved enough to earn a place in the squad.
First senior opportunity
The upcoming friendlies will now offer Rayan his first opportunity to wear Brazil’s famous yellow shirt at senior level.
Brazil face France on March 26 at Gillette Stadium in Boston. Five days later, Ancelotti’s side take on Croatia at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
For Bournemouth, the call-up represents another sign of how quickly the teenager’s profile is growing in European football.
Only months after leaving Brazil, Rayan is already stepping into the international stage. And if his development continues at the current pace, the Cherries could soon have a regular Brazil international in their squad.
Robbie Keane with some very warm – and frankly lovely – words on Alex Toth to Bournemouth
➡️ Pride brings him to tears
➡️ Toth rise reminiscent of himself at Wolves
⭐️ “I helped someone achieve their dream”
💬 “One of the nicest kids I’ve met” 👇https://t.co/L21EzOF0Ps #afcb— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) January 20, 2026
