“I have my smile back,” said Endrick in delight after scoring the winning goal for Lyon in a Coupe de France match against Lille on his debut for the French club.
It was an early sign of Endrick’s Real Madrid to Lyon loan impact, as his arrival gave the team a boost right from the start.
The Brazilian international joined Real Madrid in 2024 after lighting up his boyhood club Palmeiras in Brazil, but like many young players, he found minutes hard to come by due to the intense competition for places.
Endrick had made just three appearances for Los Blancos, only one of them in La Liga, and with the World Cup approaching, he knew regular game time was essential if he was to put himself in contention for a place in Brazil’s squad.
As a result, it was agreed in November that he would join French side Lyon on loan, with the main reason being that he could play football and gain valuable minutes, giving him a chance to impress his former club manager, now national team boss Carlo Ancelotti.
Backstory
Endrick had been a key performer for Palmeiras when breaking into the first team, but it was the 2022 Copinha where he truly made his name. Aged just 15 and playing against opponents up to five years older, he terrorised defences, scoring six goals in seven matches and picking up the tournament’s Best Player award as Palmeiras blitzed their way to the title.
It was not just his goals and assists that caught the eye, but the way he played, with swagger, confidence, and a street-football edge, performing in the biggest games with no fear and bags of self-belief.
Following the Copinha, Endrick would go on to make his senior debut, coming on as a substitute in a 4-0 victory over Coritiba, becoming the youngest player to ever represent Verdao.
Just a few weeks later, he scored twice as Palmeiras defeated Athletico Paranaense 3-1, becoming the second-youngest goalscorer in the history of the Brasileirao.
By the end of the year, Real Madrid had agreed a fee for the Brazilian to join the club once he turned 18.
2023 would prove to be an even bigger year for Endrick, as he became an established first-team player at Palmeiras, helping lead them to defend their Brasileirao title, scoring 14 goals during the year.
Those performances earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team, and his first goal came not too long after in a 1-0 victory over England at Wembley.
Move to Real Madrid
In July 2024, Endrick finally achieved the dream of many Brazilians as he joined Real Madrid. However, it would prove to be a difficult start for the teenager, who was thrown straight into the first-team squad, unlike compatriot Vinícius Júnior, who was gradually introduced through the Castilla side.
For Endrick, it meant competing immediately with the likes of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé, Arda Güler, Vinícius Júnior and Brahim Díaz. It was never going to be an easy transition for a young player adapting to a new country, a new culture, and a new level of competition.
Despite the challenges, his first season saw him feature 37 times, registering seven goals in all competitions.
Loving life at Lyon
However, in 2025/26, the lack of game time once again proved frustrating for Endrick, and he opted to join Lyon. Almost instantly, he looked like the same boy who lit up Palmeiras, playing with flair, excitement and a smile on his face.
That was evident on his debut, where he terrorised Lille in a 2-1 victory, scoring and picking up the Man of the Match award.
To prove it was not a one-off, his next match saw him once again light up the pitch as Lyon edged Brest in a 2-1 victory, with the Brazilian providing an assist and once again taking home the Man of the Match award.
Things would get even better for Endrick in his following outing, as he completed the first hat-trick of his career in a thumping 5-2 win over Metz. It was the first time he had scored more than once in a match since netting his first goals for Palmeiras against Athletico Paranaense.
Since joining the club, not only has Endrick improved, but Lyon have too, winning every single match since he signed on the dotted line.
His recent form will go a long way towards impressing Ancelotti ahead of selecting his Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup in the USA. A lack of game time previously cost him at international level, with just one appearance, but his form at Lyon will not go unnoticed as he pushes to be part of the squad.
If he continues in this vein, Endrick should be on the plane in the summer.
