Casemiro Defends Endrick and Calls for Relieving the Young Talent From Pressure in the 2026 World Cup

Casemiro clarified that his words aimed to protect Endrick and relieve the young player of unnecessary pressures in his World Cup debut.

Casemiro defends Endrick

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro stepped forward to clear up doubts and put an end to the controversy that had arisen around Endrick, the promising young player called up for the 2026 World Cup. It all started with an interview with TNT Sports Brasil in early May, when the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player warned that it was unfair to burden the striker with the responsibility of deciding crucial matches.

"If Endrick goes to the World Cup, we have to be realistic because he's not part of the squad yet. We can't put the pressure on him to have to decide the games, that when he comes in he's going to have to decide them," Casemiro said at the time, in statements that quickly went viral and sparked debate on social media.

Misinterpretation

This Thursday, with Carlo Ancelotti's official call-up already confirmed, the Brazilian captain explained that his words were misinterpreted. “These things happen on social media. I was just protecting him. We, the more experienced players, have to protect that for the greatness of the profession," he clarified.

Endrick, just 19 years old and with a recent season at Olympique Lyon, arrives at the World Cup with huge expectations. Casemiro, far from downplaying it, predicted a bright future for the striker: "He will surely play in at least three or four World Cups. At this stage, he should play freely because he has already shown that he is a great player and that he has a lot of star quality."

Reassuring Endrick

The message aims to relieve the pressure on one of the most promising talents in Brazilian soccer, who is facing his first major international event. Casemiro's intention is clear: for Endrick to enjoy himself and unleash his potential without the burden of excessive demands.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian national team is training at Granja Comary, the CBF's high-performance center in Teresópolis. The team is preparing for Sunday's friendly against Panama at the Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, a test that will serve as a gauge before the World Cup debut.