Endrick’s interview: Facing Messi, admiring Ronaldo, and overcoming pressure

In a recent interview, 17-year-old Palmeiras player Endrick shared his excitement about facing Argentina after making his debut for the Brazilian national team against Colombia.

In his own words, “I just want to savor the moment of playing against Messi, being in the same stadium as him, getting a close look at a guy I only saw in video games.”

While expressing admiration for Lionel Messi, Endrick revealed, “Messi is a great player for me, but I’m more of a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. (Luis) Guilherme used to tease me a lot about Messi being the best. It will be a wonderful experience to see Messi up close.”

He acknowledged the unparalleled status of Pelé, stating, “For me, Pelé is the king. There’s no one who can come close to him, to be compared.”

In the lead-up to the classic match, Endrick opened up about the moments of pressure following his transfer to Real Madrid.

Initially troubled by criticism, the young player decided to focus on personal happiness and family joy, steering away from playing with resentment.

He shared, “Initially, I only saw people speaking ill of me. I just wanted to prove them wrong, have a good game to show that I wasn’t what they thought.”

Reflecting on his journey, Endrick added, “After turning 17, I changed my mindset. I decided to play for myself, to be happy, and to make my family happy.”

“No more playing with hatred in my heart as I was doing. I’m simply happy now, not bothered by criticisms or anything else. If someone criticizes me, I’ll stay calm, play my game, and be happy,” he added.