At 19 years old, Endrick is already preparing for fatherhood, a World Cup campaign and the next chapter of one of the most scrutinised young careers in world football. And in a rare moment of candour, the Brazilian forward has admitted he hopes his child chooses a completely different path.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Real Madrid forward, currently on loan at Lyon, revealed that he and his wife Gabriely are expecting their first child before the end of 2026. The couple do not yet know the baby’s sex. But Endrick is already clear about what he wants for them.
“I hope he or she becomes a great person, a great human being. And that he sees me off the pitch as a normal person, not as Endrick the footballer,” he said. “Football isn’t a nice place. It’s a very tough environment. I hope he or she becomes a lawyer, a doctor or anything else, and can be happy in his own world.”
It is a striking thing to hear from someone who has dedicated his entire life to the sport. But it makes more sense when you consider what the past year has actually looked like for him.
After joining Real Madrid from Palmeiras with enormous expectations, Endrick found himself frozen out following the arrival of manager Xabi Alonso. He played just three times in six months, suffered a thigh injury, and watched his confidence take a visible knock. In December 2025, he was loaned to Lyon. The move has worked. In 18 matches in France, he has scored seven goals and provided seven assists, and Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has been watching.
Through the difficult spell at Madrid, one person stood out. “Bellingham was really important to me. He made me feel welcome at the club. I didn’t speak English very well, but he spoke to me, tried to speak a bit of Spanish, was by my side and gave me advice,” Endrick said. “His friendship was important to me in my beginning at Real Madrid.”
Now his focus has turned to the 2026 World Cup, where Brazil open against Morocco on June 13. After a substitute appearance against Croatia in March, during which he earned a penalty and set up a goal, he admitted to a difficult night mentally but says the noise no longer gets to him. “I no longer pay attention to what others say. I don’t care about that criticism any more.”
