He is already being likened to Neymar and Pele at the age of 17. Endrick, the teenager heralded as Brazil’s next great hope, says he doesn’t believe the hype.
“I know no one can even touch Pele’s feet.” “He’s the King of Football,” says the youthful forward, who recently led Palmeiras to their second consecutive Brazilian league title and will join Real Madrid when he turns 18 next year.
“All I want to be is Endrick.” “I want to show them who Endrick is,” he told AFP during an interview at a new sponsor event in Sao Paulo.
Endrick, who is compact, swift, and creative with the ball, has amassed an outstanding record of achievements since making his professional debut at the age of 16.
Aside from two league titles, he has led Palmeiras to the Brazilian Super Cup and the state championship of Sao Paulo. He became the youngest player to be called up to the national squad since Ronaldo in 1994 last month.
The striker, who joined Real Madrid last year for a record $65 million plus bonuses, arrives at a critical juncture in Brazilian football.
Five-time World Cup winners Brazil has failed to lift the championship since 2002.
Critics in the country of the “beautiful game” think Neymar’s generation has fallen short of the glory days of Pele and Ronaldo.
The “Selecao” are now sixth in qualification for the 2026 World Cup after three straight defeats, including their first-ever home setback in a qualifier to arch-rivals and reigning champions Argentina last month.
There is rising pressure on national team coach Fernando Diniz to make Endrick a starter and assign him the number 9 worn by Ronaldo and Tostao in the past.
“There are a lot of players who want to be number 9 on the national team.” I’m not concerned with my phone number. “I just want to be there and play,” Endrick adds.
‘Miniature key’
Will he live up to the expectations when he arrives at Real Madrid in July?
Endrick has previously demonstrated his ability to perform under duress.
After stealing the show in his first season in 2022, when he scored three goals in seven games to assist Palmeiras win the title in the last weeks, he was back in the spotlight this year in his first full season.
He had a slow start, scoring only four goals in his first 19 games.
He was in tears on the pitch at one point, exasperated by his goal drought.
“It was a kind of unstable start to the season,” he said.
“Then I realised I was happy because I changed the little key in my head.” I was able to assist my team in winning the championship, and I believe I will be able to assist even more next year.”
He claims that the “little key” he needed to alter was to stop reading what others said about him on social media and instead surround himself with family and friends.
He also increased his training outside of practice and began taking English and Spanish classes.
The work paid off in the second part of the season, as Palmeiras raced past leaders Botafogo to win the title in a thrilling finish.
Endrick has scored six goals in the last ten games, including a crucial brace against Botafogo and the game-winning goal for Palmeiras on Wednesday.
“They say I was a hero, but I don’t believe so.” “The entire team was a hero,” he says.
“I’m just happy to have helped the team I love.”
To prevent “getting anxious,” he is trying not to think about his imminent transfer to Madrid with his parents and sibling.
He is also well aware of the racism experienced by his compatriot and future colleague Vinicius Junior in Spain.
Endrick claims to have encountered prejudice in Brazil as well.
“I wasn’t bothered by it. “I kept playing,” he says.
“I just want to do what makes me happiest: play football.”