Now at Real Madrid, Endrick has been steadily improving as a player and is expected to be one of the stars of the next generation. Having recently earned a call-up to the Brazil national team as Neymar’s replacement, Endrick has shared his expectations for the 2026 World Cup.
Neymar was sidelined from Brazil’s squad due to a last-minute injury at Santos, jeopardizing his anticipated return to the national team. Coach Dorival Junior opted to call up Endrick as Neymar’s replacement, setting expectations for fans that the young star would integrate into the senior squad.
In an interview with Romario TV, Endrick expressed his concerns and ambitions for the upcoming World Cup: “I’m afraid of not being in the World Cup, I believe you (Romario) went through that too. I have this fear because it’s my dream, I want to be in the World Cup and I want to help Brazil win the sixth title.”
The 18-year-old also addressed the challenge of earning minutes at Real Madrid and how it could affect his position with Brazil. “It’s very difficult to be at the biggest club in the world, with the greatest players, where you can’t have the opportunity to play, but whenever you are playing, you’re showing your work for the National Team,” said Endrick.
The 2024-25 season marks Endrick’s first year at Real Madrid, but it hasn’t gone as expected. Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, the Brazilian striker accumulated 496 minutes across 28 appearances, averaging just 17.7 minutes per game. He scored six goals, a far cry from the expectations placed on Brazil’s future star.
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Dorival addresses Endrick’s situation
Brazilian fans at the Mane Garrincha stadium were eager to see Endrick in action during the match against Colombia. However, coach Dorival opted not to field the 18-year-old, leaving him as an unused substitute. After Brazil’s 2-1 victory over James Rodríguez’s side, the coach addressed Endrick’s development.
“Endrick has been closely monitored. There has been a huge improvement from what we saw a year ago, the work at Palmeiras was very well done. It’s a new phase, much more mature, it’s natural. If he had stayed in the country, his development would have been different. He stands out in every training session, it’s just a matter of time.”
Dorival then shared his thoughts on how Endrick needs to improve to match up with the current team: “We need to value possession more, which is why we’re focusing on João Pedro and Matheus Cunha’s characteristics, to circulate the ball more on the field. Right now, we need more possession, as we’ve been too vertical in our games. We have the possibility of quick attacks, we create a lot, thankfully, but once we seek greater consistency, we’ll get much more out of it.”
