Brazil is in a limit situation. The two consecutive defeats that they have accumulated in the qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup against Uruguay (2-0) and Colombia (2-1), and the three consecutive matches in this round that they have not won – at two The setbacks add up the draw (1-1) against Venezuela – left Canarinha in fifth place.
A bad sequence that, combined with the injury of important players like Neymar or Vinicius, caused the attack to be confused. And given the losses, Fernando Diniz opted for Endrick. “He is a very special player, but we need to lower expectations a little. He doesn’t need to feel pressure. You can’t expect everything from him at just 17 years old,” said the coach about Real Madrid’s future. advance.
Endrick is a very special player, but expectations have to be lowered a little. You don’t need to feel the pressure.
In the defeat (2-1) in Colombia, Palmeiras’ ‘9’ debuted at 17 years and 118 days with absolute legends surpassing Ronaldo Nazário in their precocity. “Things happened very quickly in my life. This is another dream come true,” said Endrick.
Only Pel (16 years and 257 days), Ed (16 and 303) and Honrio Coutinho (17 and 28) were precocious than Endrick. The youngest Brazilian debutant since 1966 faces the toughest challenge yet: live against Messi’s Argentina at Maracanã in their first South American Classic.
I just want to enjoy the moment of playing against Leo. Being in the same stadium as him… He’s a guy I’ve only seen in video games
“I just want to enjoy the moment of playing against Leo. Being in the same stadium as him… “He’s a guy I’ve only seen in video games.”, prepare in preview the next Real Madrid striker.
Questioned by his idols, Endrick highlighted “King Pel” and Cristiano above all.: “I’m a bigger fan of CR7 and Guilherme joked with me saying that Messi was the best. It will be a wonderful experience to see Leo up close.”
Messi and Brazil
The Brazilian football prodigy will experience his first Classic at the age of 17. He will do this against a Leo who only faced Brazil when he was 19 years old. He did so as a starter in a friendly at the Emirates, in London, which ended in a tough defeat (3-0). A score that was repeated in the first official confrontation in which they challenged the Seleção.
It was in the 2007 Copa América final that Brazil beat Argentina (3-0) at the José Encarnacin Romero Stadium, in Maracaibo (Venezuela). Then came more Classics until he reached 13 with five goals against his great rival –hat trick in a friendly (4-3) in New Jersey in 2012 included. However, he never scored against them in qualifying on the way to the World Cup.
At 36 years old, it’s one of the few marks Leo lacks. “It’s a good test to face Brazil and Maracanã,” said Messi after losing (0-2) in Uruguay. After all, they are leaders of the Qualifiers.
