Football: Can Real Madrid hope Endrick lead Brazil to the Olympics?
With the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament already underway, all eyes are on Brazilian youngster and Real Madrid prospect Endrick as he looks to secure Olympic qualification for his country.
Football
At seventeen years of age, Endrick has already achieved the dreams of most young football players.
From representing his country at U-23 and senior level, to signing for giants Real Madrid - an agreement that will see Endrick move to the Spanish capital in July 2024, the Taguatinga-born striker already seems destined for greatness.
His latest challenge comes in the form of the 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament in Venezuela.
With the tournament already underway, eight U-23 national teams are battling it out for two spots at Paris 2024. Brazil are record winners having won the tournament a total of eight times, however the last time they were crowned champions was back in 2000.
Endrick’s Brazilian team find themselves drawn in Group A alongside hosts Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador, whilst Group B consists of Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.
The first and second place teams from each group will go on to compete in one final group, where the top two sides are rewarded with qualification to this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
Endrick: Success at Palmeiras
When he was just 11 years old, Endrick signed for São Paulo-based club Palmeiras.
Before he reached 16 years of age, the striker had already managed 165 goals in 169 games for the club’s youth teams - an achievement that earned him his senior call-up in 2022 and saw him become the youngest ever player to appear for the Palmeiras first team.
Over the next year, he would go on to score 16 goals in 51 appearances and help Palmeiras win back-to-back league titles before being voted the most promising player in the Série A.
Amidst his success with Palmeiras, European giants Real Madrid made an early move for Endrick and in December 2022 it was announced that he would sign for the 14-times Champions League winners when he turns 18 years old in July 2024.
Endrick follows in the footsteps of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who both secured moves to Real Madrid from their respective Brazilian clubs before their 18th birthday.
Brazil U-23 coach Ramon Menezes will undoubtedly call upon Endrick to feature at this summer’s Olympic Games should his side win qualification at CONMEBOL, meaning Real Madrid may have to wait just a few weeks longer to get their hands on their new golden boy.
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 06: Endrick of Palmeiras celebrates the victory during the match between Cruzeiro and Palmeiras as part of Brasileirao 2023 at Mineirao Stadium on December 06, 2023 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by João Guilherme Arenazio/Getty Images)
Endrick: Brazil's next superstar?
Much has been said about the comparisons between 17 year-old Endrick and Brazilian legends Pele and Ronaldo.
Pele, who passed away in December 2022, played a key part in Brazil’s first-ever World Cup win in 1958 at the age of just 17, and with the Olympic Games coming up this summer, Endrick now has his first opportunity to achieve glory for this country.
However, the 17 year-old is keen to quieten any similarities being drawn between him and past Brazilian icons.
"There are things that happen and there are people who speak and say, 'He is the new Pele, the new Ronaldo,'” he told Brazilian media.
“I want to be Endrick and for me, what is said does not matter to me,"
Not only is a prospective Olympic Games on the cards for Endrick this summer, but having already made his senior debut, the 17 year old may be called up to represent his nation at the 2024 Copa America.
The 2024 Copa America is being held in America and kicks off on Thursday 20 June, 2024. Brazil have been drawn in Group D alongside Colombia, Paraguay and either Costa Rica or Honduras.
Should Brazil make the final, they will play at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on 14 July, 2024.
Just 10 days later, the Group Stage of the men’s football at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will kick off on Wednesday 24 July and run until the final on Friday 9 August, 2024.
The domestic La Liga season is then predicted to start on Saturday 17 August, 2024, although official dates are yet to be announced.
Should all go Brazil’s way, Endrick can expect to have a busy summer of football with multiple opportunities for global glory.
Endrick: How to watch Brazil’s latest sensation
Endrick has been named in Brazil’s 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Brazil have four group stage games to play which can be watched across South America on DirecTV and selected domestic broadcasters, while fans in the United States can watch via FuboTV and Fox Sports.
The full 2024 CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament schedule can be found here.