"Messi is a great player, but I’m more of a Cristiano Ronaldo fan": Endrick

BeSoccer 5 months ago 19k |

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Endrick spoke at a press conference before the match against Argentina. Screenshot/CBF

Endrick, an international with the Brazilian national team, appeared at a press conference ahead of the Canarinha's match against Argentina in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The youngster, already signed by Real Madrid, praised Leo Messi, who will be his opponent in the match, Pele and Cristiano Ronaldo, of whom he declared himself a fan. Without knowing if he will be a starter against the 'Albiceleste', he was willing to assume the role that Fernando Diniz imposes on him.

The young striker Endrick expressed, this Sunday, his illusion to be in the Brazilian National Team, which, next Tuesday, will face Argentina and see up close Lionel Messi, but clarified that, for him, the best players in history are the late Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pele' and Cristiano Ronaldo, in that order.

"Messi is phenomenal, he is the best in the world today and to be able to play against him, to see him up close, will be a wonderful experience," he told a news conference, referring to next Tuesday's match at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana stadium in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

However, he clarified that "Pele is still unique and that no one is going to come close to what he did", and also pointed out that, in football in recent years, he is "a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo". Endrick said he does not know if he will start against Argentina and that he respects the decisions of coach Fernando Diniz, who has said he prefers to take the 17-year-old player "calmly and carefully", already tied down by Real Madrid, whom he will join in mid-2024, when he turns 18.

"What matters to me is that the team wins and, if I get to play, I want to help," said the player. The young striker acknowledged that he had a "difficult start" this season, with many substitutions at Palmeiras, which he attributed to being "under a lot of pressure for being in Primera at 16, having been sold to Real Madrid and everything that was going on".