Brazilian media praise Endrick after his 15 minutes against Croatia

Rio de Janeiro — A quarter of an hour was all it took for 18-year-old Endrick to turn a routine friendly into a national talking point and, perhaps, to nudge his name onto Brazil’s final squad list for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Introduced in the 75th minute against Croatia at the Arena da Amazônia, the forward altered the match’s trajectory almost instantly, earning the penalty that put Ancelotti’s side ahead before slipping a precise pass to Gabriel Martinelli for the sealing third goal in a dramatic comeback victory.

Newspapers and television networks across Brazil were quick to anoint the teenager as the instant catalyst the Seleção has been missing. “He did what Neymar was supposed to do in just 15 minutes. He was Neymar in those 15 minutes,” declared prominent outlets, suggesting the brief cameo could reverberate all the way into the tournament’s knockout stages. The sentiment underscores both the weight of expectation on the squad and the belief that Endrick’s fearless directness might offer a late-match alternative capable of unlocking deep-lying defenses.

The performance arrives at an opportune moment. Since leaving Real Madrid for a season-long loan at Lyon, Endrick has steadily found rhythm in Ligue 1, sharpening the movement and composure that first caught Madrid’s eye. Brazilian pundits now argue that if he can replicate Saturday’s impact on the World Cup stage, his standing within the Madrid hierarchy will rise from promising project to cornerstone of next season’s attacking blueprint.

National-team staff have remained coy on roster decisions, but the press consensus is clear: those 15 electrifying minutes against Croatia have propelled Endrick from outside contender to compelling option, a trajectory that could ultimately shape Brazil’s fate in Qatar.