REAL MADRID
Endrick faces Real Madrid’s curse of the number 16
In the last decade, six players have worn the number 16 jersey for Los Blancos, but there has been very limited success for them.
Objective: to succeed at Real Madrid. Obstacle: the number 16. This is the dilemma haunting Endrick, as it has for many of his predecessors. In the past decade, no player has triumphed with that number at the Spanish giants. Only Mateo Kovačić stands out as a potential exception, with significant contributions and fond memories, though he never became a regular starter. The gap between him and the rest is considerable. Now, it’s Endrick’s turn to face this curse, depending on how he slides into the team.
From Silva to Odriozola: Madrid’s 16
Rewinding a decade, Lucas Silva donned the number 16 in 2014, but only managed to play 424 minutes. After him, Kovačić wore it for two seasons, proving to be the oasis in a desert. He exhibited composure, skill, and personality, fulfilling his role admirably. However, he remains the absolute exception in this thesis and certainly wasn’t a shining light of the team during that time. Since the Croatian passed on the number, Madrid’s number 16 has only played 1,393 official minutes in seven years.
The number went unassigned for two years, was worn by James Rodríguez in his second stint (only 14 matches before he moved to Everton), then passed to Borja Mayoral, who played just 21 minutes in the early season before heading to Roma. It then went to Luka Jović, whose $60-plus million transfer yielded minimal returns; he played only 551 minutes in an entire season with the number 16. Lastly, it was worn by Álvaro Odriozola, who was never a key player for Carlo Ancelotti and eventually left through the back door.
This is the legacy of the number 16 over the past decade.
Summary of Real Madrid’s number 16 curse
| Player | Season | Matches | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | |||
| Odriozola | 2022-23 | 6 | 93′ |
| Jovic | 2021-22 | 19 | 551′ |
| Foreman | 2020-21 | 2 | 21′ |
| James Rodríguez (second stint) | 2019-20 | 14 | 728′ |
| 2018-19 | |||
| 2017-18 | |||
| Kovacic | 2016-17 | 39 | 2,155′ |
| Kovacic | 2015-16 | 34 | 1,414′ |
| Lucas Silva | 2014-15 | 9 | 424′ |
More on Endrick:
Endrick’s coming-of-age number 16
The Brazilian looks the curse in the eyes, unafraid. The club’s initial plan was for him to wear the number 9, but the arrival of Kylian Mbappé's closed that door, forcing the activation of Plan B: he will wear the number 16, the same number he wore at Palmeiras when he began his professional career. At 16 years old, when he was registered with the first team, he chose the number 16.
It will be his number at Madrid, but with an eye on eventually wearing the number 9, his current number with the Canarinha. In the meantime, he has a mission: to succeed. The curse of the number 16 can play as his motivation.