One of the most anticipated images of the pre-match build-up, Endrick and Lamine Yamal’s clash of hands in the tunnel outside the dressing rooms was a foreshadowing of the exciting night that awaited.
The Real Madrid gem, who will join Los Blancos this summer from Palmeiras, and the Barcelona talent dominated the present and, in some ways, warned everyone for the future.
When all the flashbulbs were pointed at the Catalan, who was playing for the first time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Endrick burst onto the show in what was also his debut at the ground he will soon call him.
Before Spain’s 3-3 draw with Brazil, The Athletic had the opportunity to share a few minutes with Endrick’s family, accompanied by Vinicius Junior’s family, with whom he shares agency.
The excitement was real and not in vain as they were about to see their boy make his first appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu. They commented on how special Endrick’s first visit to the stadium had been last December, to watch the Real Madrid-Villarreal match from the VIP box.
But they wanted more. And Endrick too, spurred on by Tuesday’s training session at Valdebebas.
As the line-ups were announced over the public address system, the young striker was able to feel a little bit at home. His name, like those of Real Madrid’s Vinicius and Rodrygo, was chanted.
There were more such Real-centric details during the match, such as an insistent request for Joselu to come on and the whistling of Spain captain Alvaro Morata, with whom Real Madrid fans have been at odds since his move to Atletico Madrid in 2019. By contrast, regardless of the fact that he plays for Barcelona, Yamal was warmly applauded when he was substituted.
And no wonder. No one could match his impact (he won two penalties and assisted Dani Olmo) and prominence, but Endrick was the one who came closest.
Brazil head coach Dorival Junior is showing more and more confidence in him. That’s why, along with five other team-mates, he had him warming up moments after Spain made it 2-0.
All eyes were on Endrick, especially when, at the end of the half-time, he took off his sweatshirt and was seen wearing the Brazil shirt with the number 21 on his back. It was the moment.
As he waited to enter, Endrick greeted Joselu, whose team-mate he will be if Real Madrid exercise the option to buy that they agreed with Espanyol on his loan deal.
As he entered the pitch, Endrick could hear the applause over the whistles, with the many Brazilians and Madrid fans present in the stands supporting him.
He formed an attacking partnership with Vinicius and Rodrygo in an iconic image. Real Brazil. Brazil-Real. Talent and more talent.
Endrick was immediately in high spirits, pressing and asking his team-mates to do the same. And then suddenly — bang!
The talented youngster took advantage of a rebound in the box to bring Brazil back to the match with a left-footed shot. The noise was not like a Spanish goal but it was not that different.
Brazil’s players followed Endrick’s run to the corner. He put his hand to his heart, slid across the turf on his knees and added a gesture that is beginning to settle as his celebration, his arm outstretched as if offering a handshake.
Endrick celebrates equalising against Spain (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images)
He also embraced his father, Douglas, who was happy and emotional in the stands. And how could he not be? Less than five minutes after making his debut at the Santiago Bernabeu, Endrick had scored a goal, just three days after scoring the winning goal nine minutes after making his debut at Wembley.
He is still 17 years old, by the way.
“Tem estrela! (a Brazilian expression, meaning ‘He’s got a star!’),” a CBF executive told The Athletic in the mixed zone after the match.
Endrick had caused a scare with a muscular problem. There was some concern because he even had to be checked by the doctors on the touchline but the teenager played.
There was also a heated exchange with Marc Cucurella, whose attempts to stop him with his arms Endrick responded with several kicks that provoked a brawl between the teams. Vinicius, in captain and big brother mode, defended him.
Endrick apologised in the heat of the moment and again later in the cold. That happened out of the main focus, in the 85th minute, as the two teams were arguing around the second harsh penalty in Spain’s favour. A hug and a pure football scene.
After celebrating the 3-3 draw in style after the referee blew the final whistle, Endrick went straight to the stands. He gifted his shirt to his family and kissed his girlfriend.
Afterwards, he greeted some team-mates and received a warm embrace from Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF. He was also approached by Rodrigo Lasmar, the Pentacampeona’s well-known doctor, about his muscular problem.
“I spoke about it on Monday at dinner; I dreamed of scoring my first goal at the Bernabeu,” Endrick told Spanish television. “Nobody is better than anyone else here and I owe these two goals to my team-mates and to Dorival for his confidence.”
He then had a meeting with Florentino Perez and Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras and head of the CBF delegation in this FIFA window. The Real Madrid president went down to the players’ area and met Vinicius, Rodrygo, who gave him his shirt, and Endrick.
“We’re all waiting for you here,” Perez told Endrick.
Not bad for a first night at the Santiago Bernabeu but Endrick will have plenty of other chances to star in Madrid in the near future — dressed in white.
(Top photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
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