Madrid's Endrick becomes fourth youngest player to make Brazil debut

Endrick, the promising youngster signed by Real Madrid, became on Thursday the fourth youngest player in history to make his debut for the senior Brazilian national team, aged 17 years and 118 days.

The striker came on at the Metropolitano de Barranquilla in the 80th minute to replace Raphinha, when the 'Selecao' was already losing 2-1 against Colombia, in the 5th matchday of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Born in Brasilia, the Palmeiras striker surpassed, among other Brazilian legends, Ronaldo Nazario, who made his senior debut at the age of 17 years and 183 days on 24th March 1994.

However, the record is held by Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pele', who made his first appearance in a Brazil jersey on 7th July 1957, aged 16 years and 257 days, according to the BeSoccer database. A year later, 'O Rei' would go on to win the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the first of Brazil's five World Cups.

Also making their debuts for Brazil earlier were winger Jonas Eduardo Americo 'Edu' (16 years and 303 days) in 1966 and Antonio Wilson Vieira Honorio 'Coutinho' (17 years and 28 days) in 1960.

Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa, who will join Real Madrid in 2024 when he turns 18, is seen as the biggest rising star in Brazilian football since Neymar's breakthrough.