Kaka back in Brazil squad

Rio de Janeiro - Former World Player of the Year Kaka was recalled by Brazil on Thursday and is set to play his first international since the 2010 World Cup.

The Real Madrid playmaker was included in the squad for the friendlies against Iraq in Sweden on October 11 and Japan in Poland five days later.

It is the second time he has been called up under coach Mano Menezes, who replaced Dunga after the World Cup in South Africa, but last year he had to drop out through injury.

Kaka's last appearance for Brazil was in the 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final.

Brazil squad for friendly internationals against Japan in Wroclaw, Poland, on October 7 and Iraq in Malmo, Sweden, four days later:

Goalkeepers: Diego Alves (Valencia/ESP), Victor (Atletico), Jefferson (Botafogo)

Defenders: Adriano (Barcelona/ESP), Alex Sandro (Porto/POR), Daniel Alves (Barcelona/ESP), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), David Luiz (Chelsea/ENG), Dede (Vasco), Leandro Castan (Roma/ITA), Thiago Silva (PSG/FRA)

Midfielders: Fernando (Gremio), Giuliano (Dnipro/UKR), Kaka (Real Madrid/ESP), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Oscar (Chelsea/ENG), Paulinho (Corinthians), Ramires (Chelsea/ENG), Sandro (Tottenham/ENG), Thiago Neves (Fluminense)

Strikers: Hulk (Zenit/RUS), Neymar (Santos), Leandro Damiao (Internacional)