Endrick’s case to get into the Real Madrid starting XI

Ahead of him, 40 metres to run; nearing the finish line, Mbappé was on one side, Vinicius on the other. But as Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti nodded approvingly, he knew that “Endrick has guts.” The young forward takes aim and fires a cannonball from distance, all personality and courage. It fires into the net; it’s now 3-1 against Stuttgart, the final touch to a hard-fought victory in the Champions League.

“He can do things no one else would dare to do,” added the coach. Courtois joked that “if he’d missed, I would’ve killed him,” while Rodrygo smiled and said, “He’s a bit crazy”, but “what matters is scoring,” Kylian added. He entered the pitch in the 80th minute, and after just 15 minutes he had scored. The best summary, however, came from Carletto: “He has a very powerful and fast shot. You can tell there’s something special about him.”

That’s two goals in just 20 minutes. One on his league debut against Valladolid after just four minutes, and another last night against Stuttgart. He’s averaging a goal every 10 minutes—an unreal number, but a testament to the Brazilian’s talent. At just 18 years and 58 days old, he got his chance in Europe’s top competition.

But for a boy accustomed to brilliance and breaking records, it was nothing new. His goal against the German team set yet another record: he becomes the youngest player to score for Real Madrid in the European Cup or any international competition, dethroning Raúl (who was 18 years and 113 days) in the club’s 122-year history.

‘I had Mbappé and Vini with me, but the best option was to shoot’

With Brazil, it took him just four minutes to score at the Bernabéu. At Wembley, he “waited” until the 9th minute. With Palmeiras, he wrote his own record book: the youngest debutant (16 years, 2 months, and 15 days), youngest goal scorer (16 years, 3 months, and 4 days), and the first player to win titles in all levels at the club (U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17, U-20, and as a professional).

Now, returning to the spotlight, he joins an exclusive list of debutant goal scorers in both the Champions League and La Liga—alongside legends like Morientes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, Asensio and his teammate, Bellingham.

How did it feel? came the question: “I came on as a right winger, and in my first move, I passed to Vinicius, but he couldn’t score. In the second play, I had both Mbappé and Vini with me, but the best option was to shoot.” Reflecting on his moment, he added, “Just before I went on, Rüdiger told me to be ready to score. I’m so happy for my debut and my first Champions League goal.”

He describes it simply, with the innocence that has endeared him to the locker room. Antonio “Rambo” Rüdiger couldn’t resist joining in on the jokes: “Endrick... No, no! Sorry, I meant Bobby (laughter). He’s got so much personality, and thank God it worked out—otherwise, it would’ve been a huge problem.” The jokes echoed throughout the team, who initially found his decision-making baffling but soon shared knowing smiles when he decided to avoid both Mbappé and Vinicius to take the shot himself.

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It was his best game of the season—his most efficient, too: one shot on target, one goal. He only missed one pass (6/7) and created a golden chance that left Vinicius alone in front of the goal. He didn’t waste any effort either: two recoveries and a successful tackle.

Brazilians, as you might have expected, went wild on social media, cheering for their rising star wearing the number 9 for the national team. Endrick doesn’t pretend he can run at the Bernabéu before he can walk, but he’s always burned through stages at lightning speed—in Madrid and for the Brazilian national team.

Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinicius, and Rodrygo—the “Fantastic Four”—are rightfully in the spotlight. Against la Real, it was Rodrygo, the best of Madrid’s attacking quartet in an audacious display, who set up the goal that was put away by Kylian. Vinicius, meanwhile, showed signs of resurgence after a difficult match against Real Sociedad.

But Endrick is eager to join that equation. He believes in a future where it’s not just Mbappé, Bellingham, Vinicius, and Rodrygo—but Endrick as well. He’s well aware of the challenges that lie ahead as all the pieces fall into place, but he feels ready. With a cannon in his left foot and unshakable confidence, Endrick is determined to break the mould.