Kaka has been recalled to the Brazil squad for next month’s friendly double-header against the United States and Costa Rica, while Neymar is included but Thiago Silva is dropped.

The 33-year-old Orlando City playmaker Kaka becomes the first player based in Major League Soccer to be called up by Brazil as coach Dunga makes a host of changes to his squad after a disappointing Copa America.

“Kaka is a reference and we are bringing him to provide his experience, maturity,” Globoesporte reported Dunga as saying.

“He will have an important job on and off the pitch.”

Barcelona star Neymar is named in the squad despite currently suffering from a bout of the mumps and being banned for the Selecao’s first two 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela in October.

The first squad to be announced since Brazil limped out of the Copa America on penalties to Paraguay in the quarter-finals in June also features new faces such as Santos playmaker Lucas Lima, while Paris Saint-Germain captain Silva is dropped with Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista boosting the defence.

Brazil will play Costa Rica in New Jersey on September 5 and the United States three days later in Boston, Massachusetts.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Jefferson (Botafogo), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio), Alisson (Internacional)

Defenders: David Luiz, Marquinhos (both Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal/ENG), Joao Miranda (Inter Milan/ITA), Douglas Santos (Atletico Mineiro), Filipe Luis (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Danilo (Real Madrid/ESP), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP)

Midfielders: Luiz Gustavo (Wolfsburg/GER), Fernandinho (Manchester City/ENG), Elias (Corinthians), Lucas Lima (Santos), Ramires, Oscar, Willian (all Chelsea/ENG), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/ENG), Kaka (Orlando City/USA)

Forwards: Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/GER), Neymar (Barcelona/ESP), Hulk (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), Lucas (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)