Wonderkid Endrick set for Brazil debut? Future Real Madrid star destined for the top

Brazil take on Colombia and Argentina in important World Cup qualifiers this international break and could hand a debut to Palmeiras’ exciting wonderkid Endrick, after his first call-up from coach Fernando Diniz. Videos emerged on social media this week of Brazil’s 17-year-old prodigy receiving a baptism of fire in training, as Arsenal centre-half Gabriel welcomed him to Brazil duty by bodychecking the young winger, and sending him flying to the ground - perhaps showing him a sign of what’s to come when he moves to one of the world’s biggest clubs. 

Real Madrid sealed a €37.5 million deal this summer to bring the then 16-year-old Endrick to the Bernabeu, but the youngster is unable to move to Europe until he is 18 due to international transfer law, meaning he will make the move from South America to Spain next year. If Endrick gets on the pitch against either Colombia or Argentina during these internationals, he will become the fourth youngest player to ever represent Brazil.

How has Endrick performed in Brazil?

Endrick has already scored 24 goals in 70 appearances for Palmeiras, and he only turned 17 in July. To put that into perspective, when goal machine Erling Haaland turned 18, he had scored just 16 goals in 62 games. Only four players have more goals in the Brazilian league than Endrick this season. He also scored in both legs of Palmeiras’ Campeonato Paulista final win against Água Santa, aged just 16, last April.

Stats

Endrick Centre-Forward

Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras

Season 23/24–
Série A

Games

31

Goals

11

Assists

0

Legendary Brazilian forward Ronaldo, also widely known as "R9", has been full of praise for Endrick: “I think he is a boy with a very promising future and that he is already acting as a professional.” Ronaldo said. The great Ronaldo also felt Endrick should have been part of Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, “It’s something that I feel is missing in the Brazilian team. In 2010 (South Africa), Dunga didn’t take Neymar with all of Brazil asking for him, but in 1994 Carlos Alberto Parreira took me, and in 2002 Luiz Felipe Scolari took Kaká.” The Palmeiras teenager is currently valued at €25m.

Stats

Ronaldo Centre-Forward

Retired

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

454

Goals

298

Assists

76

Also speaking about Endrick, Brazilian football expert Filippo Silva told Transfermarkt. “He is the biggest prospect in Brazil since Neymar. However, Endrick is a very different player than Neymar. He is clinical in front of goal and extremely strong, already capable of pushing a grown man at age 16.” Big things are already expected for the teenager, but two other Brazilians have already paved the way for what he can achieve in Europe.

How Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo moved from Brazil to become Madrid stars

Speaking to TNT in April 2023, Vinicius said “I have a very great affection for him, I’m always supporting and cheering him on. I’m very happy for his title and for the goal he scored in the final. People are waiting for him to arrive [in Madrid] already.” And Endrick will be hoping he can make the same impact, and have the same route to becoming a first team star, as Madrid’s current number 7.

Signed from Flamengo in 2018 for €45m at just 18 years of age, Vinicius had to be patient for opportunities with the Spanish giants, making just 21 league starts in his first two seasons, but his ultimate impact was certainly worth the wait. In his last two full campaigns with the Los Blancos, Vinicius has scored 45 goals from the left-wing. In both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, the former Flamengo player had the most La Liga goals among all wingers. He’s been a provider too - no player had more assists in the 22/23 season and only Ousmane Dembélé could beat his 10 assists in 21/22. He’s now the joint most valuable player in La Liga alongside team mate Jude Bellingham - both valued at €150m.

Market Value

J. Bellingham Attacking Midfield

€150.00m

It’s been a similar journey for Rodrygo. Arriving a year later than Vinicius in 2019 from Santos, also for €45m. Last season, Rodrygo scored nine and assisted nine in the Spanish league, but his biggest impact has perhaps come in the Champions League. Rodrygo was part of the winning Real Madrid team in 2022, scoring crucial goals in the quarter-final and semi-final, and has 27 direct goal involvements in 42 Champions League appearances. He’s now valued at €100m. 

Player Comparison

Vinicius Junior

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

Real Madrid

€150.00m

Market Value

€100.00m

23

Age

22

Left Winger

Position

Right Winger

Jun 30, 2027

Contract until

Jun 30, 2028

Full Player Comparison

Spain content manager at Transfermarkt Iván Fuente gives us more insight to the impact made by Vinicius at Madrid: “In recent years, Real Madrid have signed many young players and one of the reasons is the costly renovation of the stadium, which has been much more expensive than expected. Vinicius had a difficult start. The cost of his signing put him under a lot of pressure playing with Castilla in a low division. He scored four goals in five games, but his play bothered opponents and he even had problems in a derby against Atlético B where he was bitten by an opposition player! At the beginning with the first team it was said he had no goals in his game and that his skills generated little danger. But Carlo Ancelotti really helped Vinicius to improve his goalscoring ability."

Fuente also discussed Rodrygo's journey, “Rodrygo's start as a Real Madrid player was something of a preview of his career. He was better in the Champions League than in La Liga. He scored four goals in five games in Europe in his first season, but just two in 19 in the league. He started as a substitute, but ended up getting into the starting eleven. He played fewer games with Castilla than Vinicius.” If Endrick was looking for inspiration, the two wingers that made the move from Brazil to Madrid before him couldn’t offer much more. If he can have a similar impact, he’s sure to be another Real Madrid superstar.