Endrick Raises His Hand and Enters the Race for the World Cup
An injury changed the outlook for Brazil. And now a young striker is starting to see the World Cup closer than ever.
The opportunity created by Rodrygo’s injury
The serious injury to Rodrygo, which will keep him out of the World Cup, has changed the attacking landscape for the Brazil national team. And one of the main beneficiaries could be Endrick, who has relaunched his career at Lyon after joining on loan from Real Madrid.
The young Brazilian striker, just 19 years old, is enjoying a positive spell in French football. His recent numbers and growing influence within the team have positioned him as a real option to enter the plans of Brazil’s new head coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
Just a few weeks ago, the forward insisted that his move to Lyon was not motivated by World Cup ambitions. “I’m here to be happy,” he explained at the time. However, he also admitted that playing in the tournament for his country would be “a dream.”
The next squad list will be decisive
The first indication of his international future could arrive very soon. Ancelotti is expected to announce in the coming days the squad for the preparation friendlies against France (March 26) and Croatia (April 1), both scheduled to take place in the United States.
A place on that list would be a clear signal that Endrick is entering the race for a spot in the World Cup squad.
The striker may not offer the same versatility as Rodrygo, but the attacking options to accompany Vinicius are not particularly abundant either. Among the candidates are Richarlison, João Pedro, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Jesus, Igor Jesus, Igor Thiago, and even Neymar, if he manages to regain his best form.
A Lyon dreaming of Europe again
Meanwhile, Endrick continues to deliver strong performances for Lyon, a team currently enjoying an excellent run in Ligue 1, where it has climbed to third place in the standings.
The side coached by Paulo Fonseca is once again looking toward the Champions League places, a competition the club has not played in since the 2019–20 season. The arrival of the Brazilian forward has provided a major boost to the team’s attack, which previously produced good football but struggled to convert its dominance into goals.
With three goals and three assists in six matches, Endrick’s influence on Lyon’s play continues to grow.
Young talent… and rising expectations
His performances have not been free from criticism. After Lyon’s 3–2 defeat to Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1, former French international Alain Giresse suggested that the Brazilian lacked the leadership required to guide the team, despite providing the assists for both Lyon goals.
That result ended an impressive run of thirteen consecutive victories in all competitions for the French side.
Even so, the young forward continues to build his case. And in a World Cup year, every goal, every assist, and every performance could bring him one step closer to the greatest dream for any Brazilian footballer.
