The 19-year-old Brazilian forward, Endrick, is widely anticipated to secure a spot among the 26 players called up by Carlo Ancelotti for the 2026 World Cup. After a challenging period at Real Madrid and a four-month injury layoff, the young talent has regained his form on the international stage, putting himself firmly back in contention for the tournament. During his loan spell at Lyon, he has netted eight goals and provided seven assists in just 19 appearances.
In an exclusive conversation with Thiago Rabelo, a Brazilian journalist from Transfermarkt, Endrick reflected on the right thigh injury that kept him out of action in the latter half of 2025. That setback saw him slip down the pecking order at Real Madrid, with no playing time under then-manager Xabi Alonso, who was hired in May and dismissed in January of this year.
“It’s extremely tough when you pick up an injury. I had a serious one and lost a lot of time. I missed out on matches, training, and hard work. I couldn’t compete. But thankfully, I was able to make a strong recovery. At Lyon, I started playing again and competing again. That was really good for me and earned me a return to the national team. I managed to come back at the last minute, and I need to keep working. When you’re injured, you lose everything—including the chance to fight for a spot. There was nothing I could do. It was beyond my control. I’m just grateful that I recovered well and came back strong,” Endrick told Rabelo.
Valued at €35 million on Transfermarkt, Endrick has rebuilt his reputation at Lyon. Much like he did at Palmeiras, where he was the standout player in their 2023 Brasileirão title-winning campaign, he has been decisive in big matches in Ligue 1. One such example came against PSG. In the clash with the French powerhouse—who are competing for a second consecutive Champions League title—the Brazilian scored a goal and set up another in a 2-1 victory, reigniting Lyon’s hopes of qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition.
He replicated that impact for the Brazilian national team. The day before facing Croatia, Ancelotti had described Endrick as a player for the future, effectively ruling him out for 2026. Yet, in just 15 minutes against the Croatians, he won a penalty that Igor Thiago converted and provided an assist for Gabriel Martinelli’s goal. That performance should cement his place in the World Cup squad. When asked how he rises to the occasion in decisive matches, Endrick shared his formula for success.
“I believe that in the most important matches, you have to give something extra. If it’s not about quality or skill, you need to find another way. You have to rely on strength and willpower. If I’m not at my best, I at least need to give everything for my team. I have to play and do whatever I can for them. That helps me in these big games. I always try to do that, but I know there are matches that don’t go as expected. So I try to do the impossible in those moments. If it’s not about skill, it has to be about strength and determination. That’s my approach in big games.
“A player needs confidence, but there has to be balance. You can’t be overconfident or you’ll lose your way, but you also can’t go in without any confidence. If you’re too confident, your ego takes over and you think it’ll be easy. That can’t happen. I can’t accept that. I can’t let that control my mind. I need to stay humble, but I also need to have confidence. That’s the only way to do things properly.”
In his career so far across all competitions, Endrick has scored seven goals and recorded one assist in 40 appearances.
