Hello Wembley, as they say. The boy from Brazil with music in his soul took this grand old stage by storm with a simple goal that could have huge consequences.
Endrick has been promising for months that he will branch out into world football, heading to Real Madrid in the summer, hailed as the next extraordinary talent from a country with the most impressive track record.
In the 80th minute of Saturday’s friendly against England, he became the youngest to score a senior international goal at the famous stadium.
“I must admit I didn’t know,” Endrick told Mail Sport. ‘I was so focused on the preparation that I couldn’t research anything about the history of the stadium. I knew I was entering a football temple and that was enough.’
However, he did know Sir Bobby Charlton, as he liked to select him in his all-time team on EAFC, the new version of EA Sports’ FIFA game, and mentioned his name in his post-match interviews.
Endrick scored the only goal as Brazil recorded a 1-0 friendly win against England on Saturday
The 17-year-old became the youngest player to score a senior international goal at Wembley
Endrick name-checked England legend Bobby Charlton after scoring his first goal for Brazil
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“Bobby Charlton is an idol here,” Endrick said. “Playing in the stadium where Bobby played and scoring a goal on the day Ronaldo made his debut, it’s a milestone.”
Here was another clever nod to history, this time to a Brazilian icon who made his international debut on March 23, 1994, exactly thirty years earlier.
At 17 years and 246 days, Endrick’s winner against England also made him Brazil’s youngest goalscorer since Ronaldo.
No wonder this raised a lot of hope at home, wondering who could end the wait for another World Cup since Ronaldo & Co won it in 2002.
“I have already spoken to Ronaldo and gained experiences from him,” he added. “I’m happy, I hope to help my teammates, the national team, and that we will look for victories.”
All of this is very much part of Endrick’s charm, as is his habit of singing while he plays to aid his focus and rhythm.
He says his musical tastes are eclectic. He enjoys música sertaneja, a genre of country music popular among many Brazilian footballers and characterized by themes of simple rural life, love and heartbreak, often accompanied by acoustic guitars and accordions.
Sometimes he sings this along. He also likes trap music, a subgenre of rap. When he played against Argentina at the Maracana in November, he spent the match singing a famous song called Nosso Sonho (translated as Our Dream) by Claudinho and Buchecha.
In perhaps his most famous match for Palmeiras, when he scored twice and inspired a 3-0 fightback against Botofogo to win 4-3, he sang Semper Quase Algo (Always Almost Something) by Henrique and Juliano.
Endrick will join Real Madrid after his 18th birthday in July in a £52.5million deal agreed in December 2022, and Brazilian boss Dorival will hope his young star does not change.
Endrick, who sings when he plays, didn’t know he had broken a record at Wembley
Endrick is Brazil’s youngest goalscorer since Ronaldo and has sought advice from the World Cup winner
New Brazil boss Dorival Junior hopes Endrick does not change with his move to Real Madrid
Brazilians want Endrick to join his future Real Madrid teammate Vinicius Junior, left
“Time will tell who this boy could become,” Dorival said after Endrick’s goal gave him victory in his first game in charge. “I believe that if his attitude does not change, he will certainly become a very important name in Brazilian football and world football.
‘He’s a boy who really shows a different quality for a young player, and a striker who has some interesting and different qualities to other young players. I hope he doesn’t change who he is.’
In Brazil, the overwhelming response was that the Wembley win was clear evidence of the best way forward towards the Copa America tournament in June and a future without Neymar, who is now 32, plays club football in Saudi Arabia and will miss this match an injury. .
The consensus is that Endrick should start in Spain on Tuesday, in a forward line with his soon-to-be Real Madrid teammates Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior. There were also praise for Premier League midfielders Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Gomes.