From Madrid uncertainty to a bold move

After earning little more than three appearances at the Bernabéu, Brazilian forward Endrick made a decision that raised a few eyebrows: pack his bags, head to France, and join Olympique Lyon on loan. The move had the energy of a transfer nobody asked for — until it very much became the only one anyone could talk about.

Dressing room advice that changed everything

The nudge reportedly came from within the Real Madrid dressing room itself, with Mbappé and Camavinga singing Lyon's praises and vouching for Ligue 1's physicality. "Trust us," they essentially said. Endrick trusted them. He knew that playing in a league that would help him develop faster skills under rapid pressure, specially from players of African origin, would be to his benefit. Then he proceeded to score a hat-trick in his third match.

A dream start in France

It started with a debut goal in a 2-1 Coupe de France win at Lille, followed by that stunning treble in a 5-2 demolition of Metz. Four goals in three games. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to a new country, a new league, and roughly 40 million French football fans who had never heard of you a month prior.

Numbers that keep rising

The numbers since have only grown. The Brazilian has racked up seven goals and seven assists since arriving in January — a contribution so complete it makes most designated playmakers look underemployed. And just when people started wondering if he could do it against the big dogs, he went to Parc des Princes and scored a brilliant goal while adding an assist inside the first 11 minutes, helping Lyon stun PSG 2-1.

Challenges along the way

There have been bumps, of course. A flat display against Strasbourg prompted a frank chat with manager Paulo Fonseca, and a red card against Nantes threatened a longer absence — before the disciplinary committee reviewed the footage and downgraded the punishment, clearing him to return quickly. Even Endrick's controversies resolve themselves in his favor. The kid is 19. The universe is cooperating.

What comes next for Endrick?

There's now genuine speculation about extending the loan beyond the summer, and who could blame Lyon for asking? Endrick himself has said he hopes the spell earns him a place in Brazil's squad for the 2026 World Cup. Given what he's done in France, the harder question might be keeping him off it.

Madrid loaned out a diamond to polish it. Lyon is polishing it every week — live, in front of the cameras, with a hat-trick here and a winner at PSG there. Real Madrid will want him back eventually. For now, Lyon are having too much fun, and Ancelloti is closely watching Ligue 1.

Upcoming Lyon matches on beIN SPORTS

And talking about Ligue 1, these are the next Lyon matches on the calendar that you can watch in beIN Sports and beIN Sports en Español:

31 Sat Apr 25, 2026 9:00 AM AJ Auxerre (16.)
32 Sun May 3, 2026 2:45 PM Stade Rennais (5.)
33 Sat May 9, 2026 3:00 PM Toulouse (11.)
34 Sat May 16, 2026 3:00 PM Lens (2.)

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