Real Madrid fans may not necessarily drool now after being spoiled rotten for decades. The Spanish capital´s squad has boasted attacking star after star, from Spain´s goal machine Raúl to the Ronaldos (the Brazilian number 9 and the Portuguese number 7). Then comes the current dazzling crop of Rodrygo and Vini Jr. who´ve just lifted the Spaniards to a decisive draw away against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semis. Soon another elite Brazilian speedster named Endrick will arrive to thrill Los Galácticos.
Endrick Emerges
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Perhaps only Pelé, also called the Black Pearl and widely referred to as the G.O.A.T. in the world´s most popular spectator sport, can lay claim to scoring a goal versus mighty England at Wembley Stadium at such a tender age. Endrick weighed in at 17 years and 246 days, to be precise, when the latest Brazilian head coach, Dorival Junior, summoned him from the bench.
Seeking to break the March stalemate with the Brits, Dorival gave Endrick the nod. Nine minutes later, the youth conjured up the magic so many hoped from him. He joined other Brazilian astros such as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar, and Pelé to rip the net cords as teens on the global stage. Endrick won´t quite beat Pelé for the top honor of holding the coveted World Cup aloft at age 17 (as the next tourney of that magnitude will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the USA in 2026).
Yet, in terms of the astronomical quantity of cash Endrick has already received from Palmeiras and Real Madrid (who outbid the likes of Chelsea for the teen´s twinkling feet), the prodigy doesn´t need to fret if Brazil should somehow not be able to secure its first Cup since 2002. Nowadays, no soccer giant can rest on its laurels: the newest edition will allow 47 other nations a shot at the grandest prize.
The final price tag for Endrick hasn´t yet been revealed. Suffice it to say that Madrid reportedly shelled out a cool €35m (£30m or US$38m) to Palmeiras upfront. In addition, some €25m (£21.5m or US$27m) in tasty performance bonuses await the lad. When the deal was done, Endrick was still celebrating his sweet sixteenth birthday, according to James Robinson of Sky News.
Strict rules also block the transfer of international players to European teams before their 18th birthdays, so young Endrick won´t suit up for the Spanish club until July 2024.
Endrick Follows Jesus´s 2017 Footsteps
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Soccer storybooks, especially in Brazil, are filled with tales of talented players overcoming all odds and escaping the most harrowing conditions to become stars. Rivaldo, who lost most of his teeth as a kid due to malnutrition, and Zé Roberto, whose father abandoned his wife and boys, immediately come to mind. Of course, for the lucky ones who miraculously succeed, there are millions more left behind.
Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa was born in 2006, a World Cup year. Yet his destitute mother was often homeless during his formative years. As a result, the boy spent time in an orphanage. But his talent was so abundant that his father, who too was away from the family in pursuit of his own soccer dreams, uploaded clips to YouTube of his son’s magnificent goals hoping to spark interest from Brazilian teams.
Palmeiras came knocking when Endrick was 11. The club was so eager to sign him that they provided a flat for his family and gave Endrick’s father a janitorial job (not quite the same as a pro player´s career, but he lived vicariously). Interestingly, one of Palmeiras´s fiercest rivals, São Paulo Futebol Clube, had the inside track and could have signed Endrick at 10 years old. But their proposal came up short of what the youngster’s dad deemed necessary to move the family.
In some sense, the so-called ´pocket rocket´ Endrick follows in the 2017 footsteps of another Palmeiras prodigy named Gabriel Jesus. From the Brazilian favela or slums to the top level of local soccer, followed by lucrative moves to Europe, both Jesus and Endrick have soared. Like the Brazilian Ronaldo before him, Jesus was nicknamed ´The Phenomenon´ by teammates for his ´lung-busting work rate´ in the words of Simon Bajkowski, chief Man City writer.
Also Read: Incredible Liga MX Playoffs: Chivas Jumps Ahead With Strong Defense
Can Endrick Surpass Jesus?
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Endrick claims that Real Madrid has been his favorite team since he was a kid, just a few short years ago. The Madristas are surely dreaming that the Brazilian youth will lift them even higher so they can continue their constant dream of being the world´s best.
“It’s a great responsibility for me. My family, my father and mother, are helping me a lot. That gives me a lot of strength to play for Madrid and make the fans very happy,” Endrick recently affirmed to ESPN.
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Wily soccer writer Will Beebe has been a Brazil fan since first witnessing Pelé and his team of geniuses in 1970. His recent book, Soccer Giants of Brazil: One American´s Take on Samba Soccer Culture, is now on Amazon. www.soccergaintsofbrazil.com | Connect with Will on X: @WABeebe11.
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