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RIO DE JANEIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Palmeiras forward Dudu has been drafted into Brazil's squad for the team's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
The 25-year-old, who has been capped three times for Brazil, replaces injured Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa, who was ruled out with a knee injury, the CBF said in a statement.
Dudu was a key part of the Palmeiras side that won last year's Brazilian Serie A championship. In January, he scored the only goal in Brazil's victory over Colombia in an unofficial friendly that raised money for families of victims of the Chapecoense air crash.
Brazil currently lead the South American zone qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup and will secure a berth at the tournament in Russia if they beat Uruguay in Montevideo on Thursday.
The Selecao will also meet Paraguay at Sao Paulo's Arena Corinthians on March 28.
