Endrick looking to earn Brazil spot
Currently on loan at Lyon, Endrick spoke about his ultimate ambition: to return to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup.
Endrick has joined French side Lyon on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season
His goal is to earn a spot on the Brazilian national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026
The 19-year-old striker believes he can rediscover his goalscoring stride in Ligue 1
Endrick arrived at Lyon, on loan from Real Madrid, with one crystal-clear objective: to let his talent shine and earn back his place in the Brazil line-up in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The 19-year-old sharpshooter will spend the next six months in France, where he is set to navigate a crucial chapter of his still fledgling career. He will be hoping that this will enable him to rediscover his match sharpness and bolster his confidence by getting minutes in a highly competitive environment, which should provide the recipe for goals.
“I couldn’t wait to get out on the pitch again, because that’s where I can make my dreams come true,” said Endrick in an interview with FIFA. “Playing at the World Cup is every player’s biggest dream, and it’ll remain my dream until I hang up my boots. I want to play in as many editions as possible.”
The precocious talent will return to Real Madrid after this year’s global bonanza in North America, and his early experiences with the Spanish giants have already been marked by a steep learning curve in a star-studded squad. When working under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti – the Italian tactician now in charge of Brazil – Endrick was a key cog in the side that finished as runners-up in the Copa del Rey during his first season in which the youngster ended the campaign joint-second in the competition’s goal charts.
Despite those cup exploits, 2025 will go down as a difficult year overall, as he suffered a series of injury setbacks. The teenage goal-getter believes his recent loan move will provide the perfect opportunity to get back on track and showcase his decisive qualities.
“I want to prove that I’m in top shape and growing beyond what Ancelotti saw in me at Real Madrid, in various roles,” he said, emphasising his underlying desire to expand his repertoire in France and become more of a team player.
A few days after arriving in Lyon, Endrick admitted that he was keen to hit the ground running but stopped short of saying that he was desperate for minutes. Instead, he was concentrating entirely on steady improvement. His first appearance for Les Gones could come this Sunday, 11 January, away to Lille.
The scoring sensation is no stranger to deciding heavyweight bouts, having been instrumental in winning the Brazilian top flight with Palmeiras in his debut season with the senior side. However, his priorities have shifted somewhat, and he is now looking to do more than just find the net for Lyon and Brazil. He is fiercely committed to achieving his number-one goal, which is to help the Seleção clinch a sixth World Cup crown – a dream woven into the country’s fabric.
“As a Brazilian, all I think about is winning the World Cup,” said Endrick. “We have to win it again, and it doesn’t matter who scores the winning goal or who lifts the trophy.”
All the conditions would seem to be in place for Endrick to flourish at Lyon. As well as being renowned for bringing through top-level talent, the French club has something of an affinity with the Brazilian jogo bonito, having provided a platform for household names such as Juninho Pernambucano, Fred, Lucas Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes. However, the side are currently undergoing a rebuilding process and find themselves without an established starting centre-forward – perfect for one in need of game time.
Endrick’s admiration for Karim Benzema, one of Lyon’s greatest graduates, was also pivotal to the loan switch. The Brazilian prodigy views the French powerhouse club as somewhere that strikers can blossom, leave a legacy and enjoy the respect of fans.
The generational prospect known for his eye for goal and physical prowess is fuelling optimism amongst the Lyon faithful, who yearn for the days when Benzema wore the famous red, white and blue. But it was his fellow compatriots that Endrick sought out before deciding his short-term future: “Everyone knows about Benzema’s story, but I’ve also spoken to Paqueta and Bruno Guimaraes, who had nothing but praise for Lyon,” he said.
To further sweeten the deal, there will be no language barrier with the main man in the dugout, since Paulo Fonseca is currently steering the ship. This means that Endrick will once again be guided by a Portuguese coach, just as he was during his time at Palmeiras when he worked under Abel Ferreira, who is widely credited with helping the young marksman transition to the professional ranks.
“It’s been fantastic. The Portuguese are so demanding and detail-orientated, but I adapted really well to that style when I worked with them in Brazil,” concluded Endrick.
With the clock ticking down to the World Cup, Endrick knows that time is of the essence. His spell at Lyon might just be the edge he needs.