Brazilian wonderkid Endrick has made history with Real Madrid, breaking a long-standing record to become the club’s youngest player to start a Champions League match.
At just 18 years and 73 days old, Endrick was named in the starting line-up by Carlo Ancelotti for Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 defeat to Lille on Wednesday night.
By doing so, he surpassed the previous record held by legendary striker Raul, who was 18 years and 77 days old when he started against Ajax in September 1995.
🚨 RECORD: Endrick becomes the YOUNGEST Real Madrid player to lose a match in the UCL. pic.twitter.com/Vss72sztIp
— Dafe (@fadmuckery) October 2, 2024
Expectations have been high for Endrick ever since Real Madrid activated his £51 million release clause from Palmeiras in December 2022.
The teenager officially joined the Spanish giants this past summer and has been gradually working his way into the team. Before his start against Lille, Endrick had made eight appearances off the bench, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
He first made headlines in the Champions League during his debut in the competition’s opening round. Coming off the bench against Stuttgart, Endrick scored a brilliant goal with a low strike to seal a 3-1 victory at the Bernabeu.
This goal made him the youngest player in Real Madrid’s history to score in any international competition. His impressive form also continued in LaLiga, where he netted a goal just minutes into his debut against Real Valladolid.
Endrick’s recent performances convinced manager Carlo Ancelotti to hand him his first start in all competitions. The decision saw big names like Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo drop to the bench, with Endrick leading the attack alongside Vinicius Jr.
However, despite his recent success, Endrick struggled to make an impact against Lille, and Real Madrid were left stunned by the Ligue 1 side’s narrow victory. Ancelotti has urged patience with the young forward, acknowledging the tough competition he faces for playing time, with established stars like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Mbappe ahead of him.
“He is training well, and he has a lot of quality,” Ancelotti said. “But with players like Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Mbappe in the team, he needs to be patient.”
Ancelotti has been full of praise for Endrick’s talent, especially after his goal against Stuttgart. The Real Madrid boss highlighted Endrick’s ability to do things that others can’t and described him as a player with a special gift for scoring decisive goals. “He is able to do things that no one can think of,” Ancelotti said. “He has the gift that strikers dream of.”
While Endrick didn’t shine against Lille, his potential is undeniable. The Brazilian forward’s ability to break records and score important goals at such a young age shows that he could have a bright future ahead at Real Madrid. As he continues to develop, fans will be eager to see how far he can go with Los Blancos.
