Endrick (footballer, born 2006)

Endrick (footballer, born 2006)
Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa (born 21 July 2006), known as Endrick, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Palmeiras. He will join La Liga club Real Madrid in July 2024.
Early life
Born in Taguatinga, Federal District, Endrick started playing football at the age of four. His father, Douglas Sousa, published his son's goals on YouTube and looked for interested parties among the big Brazilian clubs. Endrick vowed to become a professional footballer to help his family, after his father was unable to feed him. His father was unemployed before receiving a job as a janitor by Palmeiras.
Club career
Palmeiras
After nearly signing for São Paulo, Endrick joined the Palmeiras youth team at the age of 11. In the next five years, he would score 165 goals in 169 games for Palmeiras youth teams. Endrick participated in the 2022 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, where he scored seven goals in seven matches and was voted Player of the Tournament by supporters, after leading Palmeiras to their first title. Following the tournament, he caught the attention of international media and several major European clubs.
Endrick made his senior professional debut on 6 October 2022, coming on as a second-half substitute in Palmeiras' 4–0 league win over Coritiba. At the age of 16 years, two months and 16 days, he became the youngest player to appear for the Palmeiras first team. He scored his first two goals on 25 October, in a 3–1 win over Athletico Paranaense, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in the history of Brazil's Série A. Endrick then achieved his first trophy with the first team, winning the league with three games in hand following a 4–0 home win over Fortaleza on 2 November. He scored his third goal in seven appearances during the match as Palmeiras secured an eleventh league title in club history. At the end of the season, Endrick was voted the most promising player in the Série A.
On 11 October 2023, Endrick was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best footballing talents born in 2006 worldwide.
Real Madrid
On 15 December 2022, La Liga club Real Madrid announced that they had reached an agreement with Palmeiras, Endrick, and his family, to sign him when he turned 18 years old in July 2024. The official signing fee was undisclosed by the clubs, but was reported as an extendable three-year deal for a fixed amount of €60 million plus €12 million in taxes. However, some other sources reported the fee was fixed at €35 million, with the remaining €25 million subject to achieving specific sporting objectives.
International career
Youth career
On 18 March 2022, Endrick was called up to the Brazilian national under-17 team to compete in the 2022 edition of the Montaigu Tournament in France. With five goals in four matches, including one against Argentina in the final, Endrick finished as the top scorer and was named best player of the tournament, as Brazil won their first Montaigu Tournament title since 1984.
Endrick was initially included in Brazil's under-20 squad for the 2023 South American Youth Championship in Colombia. However, as his club Palmeiras elected not to release him, he would ultimately not be a part of Brazil's title-winning team; Palmeiras did not want Endrick to miss the start of their pre-season, which overlapped with the tournament's January and February timeframe.
Style of play
A left-footed forward with a good shot, Endrick is considered one of Brazil's best football prospects, and has drawn comparisons with legendary Brazilian strikers Ronaldo, Pelé, and Romário. When asked to describe his style of play, Endrick said, "I'll always fight. I'll be persistent and try until the last minute I'm in the game. I never give up, I pressure defenders, I run more than anyone else on the pitch." He has also stated that his idol is former Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo.
Career statistics
Club
Honours
Palmeiras
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022
Supercopa do Brasil: 2023
Campeonato Paulista: 2023
Individual
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer: 2022
Samba Gold Best Brazilian under-20 player of the year: 2022
References
External links
Endrick Felipe at playmakerstats.com (English version of ogol.com.br)
2006 births
Living people
Sportspeople from the Federal District (Brazil)
Brazilian men's footballers
Brazil men's youth international footballers
Men's association football forwards
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players