It is a fact that the player is one of the greatest center forwards in South America in recent times. The question that remains is: why didn't they call up Gabigol for the Brazilian team?

This is the question we will discuss in this article. But first of all, with the World Cup just around the corner, if you still don't know which teams will face each other in this first group stage, check out the content we've prepared for you. 

The controversial Brazilian player has been the target of several comments, some in favor and some against. So, what would be the real reasons for not being called up.

The athlete has a very strong personality and spared no comments after not being called up. On the other hand, coach Tite did not give many satisfactions. 

The player had an incredible season at Flamengo. In 2022, he won the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores with the red and black team.

In the Copa do Brasil he was a key player in the victory, he took responsibility, converting his goal in the penalty shootout, in a moment of great tension.

In the Libertadores, history repeats itself, he again scores the title-winning goal. Without a doubt, “Pre10tinado”.

The player has been writing a spectacular story in the biggest club competition in South America. He is already the 5th player with the most goals for a single club in the competition (28). 

With everything going well for the player, all that was missing was the call-up to end his year with a flourish. 

Tite called up the athlete for some of the last games, implying that he would be part of the squad that will compete in the World Cup in Qatar. However, that's not what happened.

So why didn't they call the player?

One of the theories that has emerged in recent days is that Gabigol was not called up, mainly at a request from Neymar.

The sister of, number 10 of the Brazilian team, had a relationship with Gabi. The end of this relationship would be the reason why Neymar asked the coach not to call up the Flamengo athlete.

However, Ney, when asked, said that quite the opposite, if he were to give his opinion on the player, he would request his call-up, as he understands that Gabriel Barbosa would be extremely important for the team. 

In an interview, the team's technical assistant explains the athlete's absence from the team, and also recalled other important names who will be left out of the World Cup in Qatar.

Firstly, he makes clear the big names who were also left out of this call-up, such as: Matheus Cunha (Atletico de Madrid) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool). Both players play as a center forward.

The assistant says that Tite used the criterion of selecting two players with different characteristics per position to define the list. He concluded by saying that they were already well served, that is, they had already defined players for the position that Gabigol plays.

Is this really the reason the coach leaves the star out? 

Apparently, yes, the two players called up for the center forward position are Pedro and Richarlison.

After the call-up that took place on November 7th, and after many comments about Gabigol's non-call-up, the athlete spoke out in Flamengo's trio electrico.

On Sunday, days after the list was released, the player from the red and black team made a somewhat controversial appearance. 

In the electric trio where the players of the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil champion team celebrated the victorious year. Fans booed the current coach of the Brazilian team for not calling up Gabigol. 

The striker didn't leave it alone, he conducted and accompanied the fans, like a maestro conducting a symphony.

In response to the boos, who said that Gabi didn't need the coach, he agreed and added, saying that he really didn't need it, that he already played for a national team.

In other words, he didn't need the coach, since he already played for Flamengo.

For many, this was enough explanation for the player's absence in Qatar.

Many Brazilian fans did not welcome the player's attitude. They claim that this act was enough to justify the striker's absence from the team.

On the contrary, Tite did not comment, which was not a good sign, as Gabriel Barbosa was pre-summoned for an extraordinary call-up.

However, after what happened in Flamengo's electric trio, expectations that the player will be called up are low.

The Flamengo striker gave an interview to the program “Altas Horas”, this Saturday, November 19th, and spoke about the controversies of recent days, involving the coach of the Brazilian team, and the non-call-up.

Gabigol admits he felt angry about not being called up by Tite, however, he is now calmer regarding the choice of coach.

The player says he met with his family to follow the call-up, hoping to make the list, unfortunately the news did not come.

He makes it clear that he was frustrated, but that there was no feeling of resentment. That after 30 minutes everything would have been calm.

Gabriel Barbosa also thanked the fans for their affection who thought he should have been called up. Which at the moment will continue working to improve.

Furthermore, the athlete left his full support for the Brazilian national team players. And he says that he sincerely hopes that we will be hexa. 

As Gabigol already said, what matters is bringing the hexa, it doesn't matter who will make up the cast. 

And in this World Cup atmosphere, check out who will be Brazil's biggest opponent in this competition in Qatar in our article at the end.