Real Madrid spent a significant chunk of change on Endrick, believing he would be the next big superstar in world football, just as Vinicius Junior has turned out to be after being an investment from Flamengo neary eight years ago (goodness does time fly).
While Endrick showed flashes in his first season as a Madridsta and was arguably the best player in the Copa del Rey, he never really got a fair shake in the 2025/26 season under Xabi Alonso, whose misuse of the former Palmeiras phenom was met with scorn by the Real Madrid front office at that time - and now, it looks like more malpractice from the former Madrid manager.
It is a bit surprising that Alonso, who made great use of a young and talented squad with Bayer Leverkusen, failed to see the obvious talent in Endrick. On loan at Lyon, Endrick is flourishing in Ligue 1 with regular playing time, scoring goals and showing a level of explosion, ball progression, and chance creation that Real Madrid never quite harnessed.
Endrick continues to dazzle, including for Brazil
And now for a Brazil national team practically begging for a star to emerge alongside Vinicius Junior, especially with Rodrygo Goes done for the World Cup with a torn ACL, Endrick is starting to show those same signs of early stardom that he is exhibiting in the French top flight.
Yes, yes, it was only an international friendly, but don't tell that to the players of Croatia and Brazil, who were clearly taking it seriously. Brazil came away the victors against Luka Modric and Co., winning 3-1 in no small part due to Endrick. Vinicius Jr. had a brilliant assist to open things up, but Endrick truly broke the game open in the 76th minute when he came on as a sub.
Endrick won a penalty and recorded an assist, proving decisive in a 3-1 win. Croatia could not handle him at all, and from the way they were openly body checking him in the midfield so that they could stop him before he got going, it's not like Croatia were not trying to stifle the teenage sensation.
Real Madrid really could have benefited from the left footed genius in their first team this season. But for Lyon and now for Brazil, Endrick is sending the deafening message to the new Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa and to the front office that he is already one of the world's biggest game breakers. Real will need that spark in 2026/27.