Endrick arrived in the United States this summer with a couple of items on his to-do list: visit Disneyland, and conquer Copa America with Brazil.
One down, one to go. Brazil kicks off its pursuit of a sixth crown against Costa Rica on Monday. A quarter-final clash with the hosts looms on the horizon.
But coach Dorival Junior gave his players a day off earlier this week and Endrick headed to Orlando to visit the four Disney theme parks. He was joined by Rodrygo.
They will be teammates for club and country very soon, with the 17-year-old joining Real Madrid later this summer.
Endrick up on the movies of Hollywood and the music of Justin Bieber. His favorite TV show? Prison Break.
Endrick will play in his first major international tournament with Brazil at Copa America
The 17-year-old striker has long been considered one of soccer’s finest young talents
There will be no escaping the spotlight this summer, however, as the striker shoulders huge expectations heading into his first major international tournament.
Endrick has long been considered one of soccer’s finest 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 needs to do his best for his team to win. It’s already enormous, but that’s all,’ he insists.
The teenager has already scaled heights few players reach – at any age or any stage of their career. A month shy of his 18th birthday, the forward is capped for Brazil and he scored against both England and Spain this year.
Now, Endrick is ready to pull on his country’s iconic No 9 jersey at Copa America – two years before the World Cup lands in the US.
Endrick and Rodrygo, who will soon be teammates at Real Madrid, visited Disneyland
The teenager has already won six caps and scored three goals for the Brazil national team
Dorival Junior is without the injured Neymar but he can still call on a fearsome attack which includes Endrick, Gabriel Martinelli, Raphinha, Rodrygo and Ballon d’Or hopeful Vinicius Jr.
‘I see Copa America as a competition that we have to win. It has its own value, and it is not a preparation tournament,’ he tells Mail Sport.
‘I really enjoy how Americans enjoy and promote their games. It will be great to play here.’
A couple of 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 would be better spent elsewhere. Somewhere more suited to a kid.
‘He wanted to say that I should also have fun, and that people shouldn’t demand so much of me at 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 can’t wait to go to the parks in Florida with my brother Noah as well.
As a child, Endrick watched his parents go without food to ensure he never went hungry. These days, in any rare free time, the teen enjoys sampling different restaurants. And spending time with young Noah, who is only five.
This supremely talented 17-year-old was born close to the country’s capital, Brasilia. His parents provided him with a platform to showcase those skills to the world. His early days also came with a taste of life in north America.
‘I really enjoy superhero movies, especially from Marvel – my favorite is Black Panther,’ he says.
‘As for TV shows, the one I liked the most was Prison Break. In music, today, what I listen to the most is (the Brazilian rhythm) “Arrocha”. But in the past, I listened a lot to Justin Bieber.’
Endrick’s father Douglas Ramos (R) went without food to ensure his son never went hungry
The teenager scored the winning goal as Brazil beat England at Wembley earlier this year
Endrick’s meteoric rise has accelerated in recent weeks. He said an emotional goodbye to Palmeiras after a draw against San Lorenzo in the Copa Libertadores. Then it was straight into training with the Brazilian national team.
After the Copa America, he begins life at Real Madrid. The Spanish giants, who recently lifted a record 15th Champions League title, will also welcome Kylian Mbappe this summer.
Carlo Ancelotti already had Jude Bellingham in his ranks. It is a terrifying arsenal 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 league in the world,’ he says.
‘I even scored the winning goal. It was a special game even before it started, and much more after it ended.’
He said an emotional goodbye to Palmeiras after a draw against San Lorenzo back 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 on my side – sharing passes with him – rather than having to mark him,’ Endrick says with a smile. He will get his wish very soon.
Chelsea very nearly poached Endrick a couple of years back. The teenager visited the team’s training facility and met the likes of Jorginho and Thiago Silva. He watched Chelsea face Arsenal. He was shown the house, the school and the church that he would call home.
But Madrid has always been his dream. ‘My strongest and best memories are of Cristiano Ronaldo, my idol, playing for Real Madrid,’ the 17-year-old says.
‘Because of him, I researched a lot about other great players from the club, but always because of him. I already know the club, part of its structure.
‘I am very focused on the commitments I still have before arriving there, and I have not yet been able to think of anything else.’
But that doesn’t change a simple fact. ‘I will arrive at the biggest club in the world. It’s not one of the biggest. It’s the biggest.’