Endrick aims to reboot career with Lyon ahead of World Cup

Jan 9 : Brazilian ‌teenager Endrick aims to reboot his club career and stake a claim for Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad as he prepares for his competitive debut with Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday against Lille in the French Cup.

The 19-year-old forward, on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season, is eager to showcase his potential after struggling for game time at the Santiago Bernabeu under coach Xabi Alonso.

"Leaving the biggest club in the world, where everyone dreams of playing, would be difficult for anyone, but I'm not leaving. It's just a break," Endrick told Reuters in an interview on Friday. 

"(At Lyon) I'll finally be able to ‌play a series of matches and that will also benefit Real Madrid. Lyon's interest helped a ‌lot - they have everything I was looking for: the squad, the fans, the coaching staff and the opportunity to grow."

Real paid more than 60 million euros to sign a striker who was widely regarded as a generational talent at 16 from Sao Paulo-based Palmeiras in 2022, but he had to wait until he turned 18 to join the Spanish side due to FIFA regulations on underage players. 

From the impoverished slums of the capital Brasilia, Endrick helped Palmeiras to a record-extending 12th Brazilian league title and became Brazil's youngest international since Pele in 1957.

Endrick also became the youngest ‍player to score in an international game at Wembley in March 2024, with his goal giving Brazil a 1-0 victory over England that ended the home side's 21-game unbeaten streak at the national stadium.

He joined Real on a six-year deal in July 2024 and in his first season under then-coach Carlo Ancelotti, Endrick netted seven goals in 37 appearances, largely as a substitute.

However, a muscle injury at the start of