Brazil’s youngster is getting far fewer minutes than he would have liked at this World Cup, but he is relishing the positive side of it
Endrick has not played a lot of minutes at this summer’s World Cup.
But that does not necessarily have the youngster feeling down. Instead, he is using every day in Brazil’s camp to learn from Neymar and the senior players around him.
The Real Madrid striker is still at the very early phase in his career, both at club level and in the national team under Carlo Ancelotti, so he believes the experience of sharing a dressing room with some of Brazil’s most respected players this summer is as valuable as any minutes spent on the pitch.
“I have a very good relationship with Ney,” Endrick said. “We joke around after training, play cards and chat. On our day off, we were together, we talked. It is very important to talk to people who are captains of the national team, like Marquinhos, Casemiro and Alisson.
“Getting experience from them is a wonderful thing. They are people who understand football. Knowing more about this is very good. And it is not being different with Ney. We sit side by side on the bench too. I will try to get the most out of it, because I still have a long time left in my career.”
Endrick arrived at the 2026 World Cup as one of Brazil’s brightest young talents but there is fierce competition for places in the Seleção attack. His biggest contribution so far has come after he was introduced at half-time in Brazil’s 2-1 victory over Japan in the last 16.
“The game against Japan was wonderful,” Endrick said. “I didn’t expect to come on at that moment. At half-time they called me, I only knew how to talk to God, asking for calm. It was a click in my head, I was on the bench cheering, and in the dressing room they told me I was going to come on.”
At the tournament, Endrick has also got a chance to work with Ancelotti again, his coach in his first season at Real Madrid after moving from Brazil. Endrick is thrilled to learn from him again, if only in the national side.
“Wonderful experience,” Endrick said. “My first coach in Europe. For me, it was incredible. I learned a lot from him, the staff too. Very grateful. I am very happy about this. There is no better fit than having him as coach in Brazil.”
