Endrick

Biography of Endrick

Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, better known simply as Endrick, is a young professional Brazilian soccer player (forward) who has been considered by many as one of the future stars of the sport. He is seen as the possible successor to figures such as Neymar, Vinicius, and Rodrygo.

 

Beginnings

Endrick was born into a humble family on the outskirts of Brasilia on July 21, 2006. His parents, Douglas Ramos de Sousa and Cintia Moreira, claim that he learned to play soccer almost at the same time he learned to walk.

He started playing soccer at the age of four, following in his father’s footsteps, an amateur soccer player who supported him from the beginning. Together, father and son recorded and shared Endrick’s first goals on video platforms such as YouTube.

Like many young Brazilians, Endrick saw soccer as a way to improve his and his family’s economic situation. From a very young age, he promised to become a professional soccer player to help his family and improve their quality of life.

 

Professional career

At the age of 11, Endrick was about to join the São Paulo F.C. junior divisions, but in 2017 he finally joined the S.E. Palmeiras academy. There, in the youth divisions, he had an outstanding performance, scoring 165 goals in 169 games. This attracted the attention not only of the professional team, but also of local media and European observers.

In the 2022 season, starting from matchday 27 of the local championship known as Brasileirão, coach Abel Ferreira called him up to join the professional team. In matchday 30, Endrick made his debut with the number 16 on his back, entering the game in the 69th minute of the match against Coritiba. Although he didn’t score, he came close on two occasions and made a good impression on his coach and the public.

After his debut, at the age of 16, Endrick signed his first professional contract with Palmeiras, which included a cl ause that valued him at 60 million euros, a price typical of the best players in the world. Since then, clubs like Manchester City, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Real Madrid have been closely following him.

On October 25, at the age of 16, three months, and four days, he scored his first two goals with Palmeiras in the 3-1 victory against Athletico Paranaense. With this, he became the youngest player in Palmeiras history to score a goal as a professional, surpassing Heitor, who had scored his first goal at the age of 16, 11 months, and 14 days.

 

Real Madrid signing

On December 15, 2022, Real Madrid announced the signing of Endrick after showing interest in the player throughout the season. According to a club statement, “Real Madrid C. F., Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Endrick, and his family have reached an agreement whereby the player will be able to join Real Madrid when he reaches the age of majority in July 2024.” In the meantime, Endrick will continue his training at Palmeiras and will travel to Madrid soon to get to know the club facilities.

Real Madrid C. F., Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras, Endrick, and his family have reached an agreement whereby the player will be able to join Real Madrid when he reaches the age of majority in July 2024.

 

Playing style

Endrick is a talented left-footed forward with a good shot. The local press has compared him to players like Ronaldo and Romario and has projected a promising future for him. Instead of emphasizing his technical skills, Endrick focuses on his determination and competitive mindset, saying, “I will fight, be persistent, and try until the last minute.” This has caught the attention of Real Madrid, which considers this attitude part of its competitive DNA.

Endrick is a fast player who tends to aggressively press the opponent’s ball exit. He has expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and once posted, but later deleted, a post showing his admiration for a Messi goal in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.