Endrick arrived in the United States this summer with a few things on his to-do list: visit Disneyland and conquer the Copa America with Brazil.
One down, one to go. Brazil starts its hunt for the sixth crown against Costa Rica on Monday. A quarter-final match with the home team looms on the horizon.
But coach Dorival Junior gave his players the day off earlier this week and Endrick headed to Orlando to visit the four Disney theme parks. He was accompanied by Rodrygo.
They will be teammates for club and country very soon, with the 17-year-old heading to Real Madrid later this summer.
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Endrick will play his first major international tournament with Brazil during the Copa America
The 17-year-old forward has long been regarded as one of the best young talents in football
However, there will be no escape from the spotlight this summer as the forward has big expectations heading into his first major international tournament.
Endrick has long been regarded as one of football’s best young talents, the heir apparent to a throne once occupied by the likes of Pele, Ronaldo and Romario.
‘My pressure is that of an athlete who has to do his best to help his team win. It’s already huge, but that’s it,” he emphasizes.
The teenager has already reached heights that few players reach at any age or stage of their career. A month before his 18th birthday, the striker was selected for Brazil and scored against both England and Spain last year.
Now Endrick is set to don his country’s iconic number 9 jersey at the Copa America – two years before the World Cup lands in the US.
Endrick and Rodrygo, soon to be teammates at Real Madrid, were visiting Disneyland
The teenager has already won six caps and scored three goals for the Brazilian national team
Dorival Junior is without the injured Neymar, but can still count on a fearsome attack with the likes of Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha, Rodrygo and Ballon d’Or hopeful Vinicius Jr.
‘I see the Copa America as a competition that we have to win. It has its own value and it is not a preparatory tournament,” he told Mail Sport.
‘I really enjoy the way Americans value and promote their games. It will be great to play here.’
A few years ago there was a clamor for Endrick, then just 15, to be part of the Palmeiras squad at the Club World Cup. But coach Abel Ferreira thought his time could be better spent elsewhere. Somewhere more suitable for a child.
“He wanted to say that I should have fun too, and that people shouldn’t demand so much from me during that time,” Endrick explains.
He is considered the heir apparent to a throne once occupied by the likes of Pele and Ronaldo
“I was able to go to Disneyland in Paris, but I also can’t wait to go to the parks in Florida with my brother Noah.”
As a child, Endrick watched his parents go without food to ensure he would never go hungry. Nowadays, the teenager enjoys tasting different restaurants in every rare free time. And spending time with young Noah, who is only five.
This extremely talented 17-year-old was born near the country’s capital, Brasilia. His parents gave him a platform to showcase these skills to the world. His early days also brought a taste of life in North America.
“I really enjoy superhero movies, especially Marvel ones – my favorite is Black Panther,” he says.
‘As far as TV shows go, I liked Prison Break the most. As far as music goes, I listen to (the Brazilian rhythm) “Arrocha” the most these days. But I used to listen to Justin Bieber a lot.”
Endrick’s father Douglas Ramos (R) went without food to ensure his son would never go hungry
The teenager scored the winning goal as Brazil defeated England at Wembley earlier this year
Endrick’s meteoric rise has accelerated in recent weeks. He said an emotional farewell to Palmeiras after a draw against San Lorenzo in the Copa Libertadores. Then it went straight to training with the Brazilian national team.
After the Copa America he starts his life at Real Madrid. The Spanish giants, who recently won a record 15th Champions League title, will also welcome Kylian Mbappe this summer.
Carlo Ancelotti already had Jude Bellingham in his ranks. It’s a terrifying array of young talent. Bellingham and Endrick shared the pitch a few months ago when Brazil beat England at Wembley – thanks to the striker’s first international goal.
“Brazil – the most successful team in World Cup history – against England, in one of the most important stadiums in the world, in the country with the best competition in the world,” he says.
‘I even scored the winning goal. It was a special game before it started, and even more so after it ended.”
He said an emotional farewell to Palmeiras after a draw against San Lorenzo in May
Endrick played against Jude Bellingham and they will soon be teammates at Real Madrid
His first impression of Bellingham? “Look, I prefer him to be on my side – to share passes with him – than to have to flag him down,” Endrick says with a smile. He will get his wish very soon.
Chelsea almost poached Endrick a few years ago. The teenager visited the team’s training facility and met Jorginho and Thiago Silva, among others. He saw Chelsea face Arsenal. He was shown the house, school and church he would call home.
But Madrid has always been his dream. “My strongest and best memories are of Cristiano Ronaldo, my idol, when he played for Real Madrid,” says the 17-year-old.
‘It was because of him that I did a lot of research into other great players at the club, but always because of him. I already know the club, some of its structure.
“I’m very focused on the commitments I have left before I get there, and I haven’t been able to think of anything else yet.”
But that doesn’t change a simple fact. ‘I end up at the biggest club in the world. It’s not one of the biggest. It’s the biggest.’