Madrid-bound Endrick rejects Pelé comparisons
Brazil forward Endrick has rejected comparisons with late Brazil legend Pelé and asked to “just let history be made.”
The Palmeiras star, who is set to join Real Madrid on July 21 when he turns 18, scored the winner in Brazil’s 3-2 friendly victory against Mexico on Saturday ahead of the Copa América.
In doing so, Endrick emulated Pelé’s feat of scoring three goals for the national team before his 18th birthday.
“I always had it in my head that you [journalists] create your own things, you create crazy things,” Endrick said.
“When I was younger, when I was 16 years old, I watched a lot of social media, I’m not going to lie, and they kept comparing me to Vitor Roque, they kept comparing me to Pelé . You guys are crazy. Pelé was Pelé .
“You shouldn’t be comparing yourself to anyone, for me that’s ugly, and everyone has their own story, their own reality, where they came from and what they have to go through to be able to play.
“And you want to keep comparing. Just let history be made.”
Endrick has been one of Brazil’s most highly-rated young players since making his first-team debut for Palmeiras aged 16 in October 2022.
Earlier this year, he made headlines worldwide when he scored his first senior goal for Brazil in their 1-0 win against England, becoming the youngest men’s player to score an international goal at Wembley.
Three days later, he became the only player under 18 to score in two consecutive international matches since Pelé, finding the back of the net against Spain in a 3-3 draw at Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior said he hopes the weight of expectation already being carried by Endrick does not become too much for the Madrid-bound player.
“Let’s be very careful with this boy,” said Dorival in a post-match news conference following Brazil’s win against Mexico.
“A lot is happening in his life in such a short amount of time. He maintains the essence. [The goal] is an important factor, which gives the player confidence. We have to be calm and patient, without [drawing] any comparison with one name or another. Endrick has to do it for himself.”
Endrick and Brazil are back in action on Wednesday against the United States in a Copa América warm-up game in Orlando, Florida.
Brazil begin their Copa América on June 24 against Costa Rica.
