Rio de Janeiro, Jan 23 (IANS): Brazil national football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho for next month's friendly against England.
Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar and Sao Paulo striker Luis Fabiano were also included in a 20-man squad for the Feb 6 fixture at London's Wembley Stadium, reports Xinhua.
There was no place for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka or Internacional's Tottenham Hotspur target Leandro Damiao, who was Brazil's leading goalscorer at last year's London Olympics.
Ronaldinho has not represented the Selecao since the team's 2-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in February last year. His recall comes after several match-winning performances for Atletico Mineiro in Brazil's top flight last year.
The squad is Scolari's first since being appointed Brazil coach for a second time last month after the sacking of Mano Menezes.
The 64-year-old, who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan during his first spell in charge, admitted he was looking forward to seeing 32-year-old Ronaldinho alongside Neymar, 12 years his junior.
"We want them to play the way they know best," Scolari said during a press conference here. "There are not too many players better than those two, they are stars and we want them to play."
Scolari also included Lazio midfielder Hernanes, who had been overlooked by Menezes for Brazil's recent matches.
Brazil squad:
Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Queens Park Rangers), Diego Alves ( Valencia)
Defenders: Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Adriano (Barcelona), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dante (Bayern Munich), Leandro Castan (AS Roma), Miranda (Atletico Madrid), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Ramires (Chelsea), Arouca (Santos), Paulinho (Corinthians), Hernanes (Lazio), Oscar (Chelsea), Ronaldinho (Atletico Mineiro)
Forwards: Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Lucas (Paris Saint-Germain), Fred (Fluminense), Luis Fabiano (Sao Paulo)