At just 17 years old, Endrick already has the world of football at his feet. Bought at a high price by Real Madrid last winter, he recently made his first steps in the Brazilian national team. And, above all, has just won the Brazilian championship with Palmeiras, his training club.
Expected soon in Spain to make his debut with Casa Blanca, Endrick will be able to showcase his talent in Europe. The opportunity to look back on the facts and anecdotes which have already marked his young career.
Having started for two seasons with Palmeiras, his training club, Endrick had the opportunity to set records early. No wonder, considering the age at which he made his debut in Alviverde colors: 16! He thus became the youngest player in history to play for Palmeiras. And it didn’t take long for him to explode in the Brazilian championship. By scoring a double against Athletico Paranaense at 16 years and 98 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Brazilian championship, beating for example Neymar, who scored his first goal at 17 years and 41 days . Almost a retiree!
SEE ALSO – The best of Endrick at the Palmeiras training center
Like many Brazilian footballers, Endrick was under real pressure to turn professional. His father, Douglas Ramos, himself tried to make a living playing football but never succeeded. So he took on odd jobs, cleaning or selling coffee to meet his son’s needs. And when he had different Brazilian clubs at his feet, at the age of ten, his father’s conditions put some off: a job and accommodation to stay close to his son. Ultimately, Palmeiras accepted his requests and Douglas Ramos was able to become a maintenance worker at the club. And the young man is grateful to the Brazilian team, as he said in an interview with FIFA: “Palmeiras helped me, I am aware of that and I am immensely grateful for that. This opportunity allowed me to show my football and help my family.
His 11 goals scored in 34 matches played have obviously not gone unnoticed, and even less so in the eyes of Fernando Diniz, the Seleção coach. So much so that Endrick’s performances pushed him to select him for the first time on November 6. By making his first appearance in the Brazilian jersey against Colombia on November 17, he became the fourth youngest Brazilian to wear the colors of Brazil (17 years and 118 days). And he has no reason to pale in front of the glorious elders who precede him! Only Pelé (16 years and 257 days, 1957), Edu (16 years and 303 days, 1966) and Coutinho (17 years and 28 days, 1960) have beaten him. Each of them has won at least one World Cup. Enough to inspire the New Madrid.
While he signed for Real Madrid in the winter of 2022, Endrick revealed that he has always been a fervent supporter of the club. And it’s a family affair, since his parents are also Real fans. So much so that they hesitated to name their son Di Stéfano, in homage to the Madrid legend, three-time Ballon d’Or winner, as he revealed for Marca: “Real Madrid is a team that I love , a team I watched play growing up. When I started to like this team, I sought to know more about its history. My parents wanted to call me Di Stéfano.” But they finally opted for Endrick, and it is under this name that the Brazilian intends to shine in the white jersey in the coming years.
Former recruiter for Real Madrid, Manolo Romero had doubts about the age of the Brazilian prodigy after being amazed by his physical form: “I always had doubts with Endrick that the age we give him give either the good one,” he said on the set of Carrusel Deportivo. “Physically he is too well trained and I always remember the anecdote of Radamel Falcao who arrived in Europe older than his age.” Doubts persist about the real age of the Colombian striker, who according to certain documents was born in 1986 and not in 1984.
Either way, Endrick is expected to make his debut for Real Madrid soon. And his future club also congratulated him on social networks, after he won the Brazilian championship on the night from Wednesday to Thursday: “Congratulations Endrick for this second consecutive coronation. Your goal in the last match helped your team, Palmeiras, win a deserved title. We are very proud of you”.