RIO DE JANEIRO:  (AFP) – Veteran striker Ronaldinho was on Thursday handed a surprise recall to the Brazil squad for next month’s friendly against Ghana, with coach Mano Menezes opening the door to the 2014 World Cup finals.

The 31-year-old, now playing for Flamengo in the Brazilian championship, last played for Brazil in November 2010 after being
overlooked for the World Cup in South Africa when his club career at AC Milan began to flag.

But Menezes said Ronaldinho deserves another opportunity in a misfiring Brazil team which has struggled in recent months which has seen a quarter-final exit at the Copa America and a 2-0 loss to Germany in a friendly.

“Ronaldinho is a world champion with the Brazil team and after his return to the country he has readjusted and he is playing very well,” said Menezes, of a player who has scored five goals in his last 12 league outings.

Brazil face Ghana at Craven Cottage in London on September 5.

Brazil squad to face Ghana in a friendly international in London on September 5:

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan/ITA), Fabio (Cruzeiro), Jefferson (Botafogo)

Defenders: Lucio (Inter Milan/ITA), Thiago Silva (AC Milan/ITA), David Luiz (Chelsea/ENG), Dede (Vasco da Gama), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP), Danilo (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Adriano (Barcelona/ESP)

Midfielders: Lucas Leiva (Liverpool/ENG), Ralf (Corinthians), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich/GER), Elias (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk/UKR)

Forwards: Alexandre Pato, Robinho (both AC Milan/ITA), Neymar (Santos), Hulk (FC Porto/POR), Ronaldinho (Flamengo), Leandro Damiao (Internacional)