Young Real Madrid star makes history by breaking major club record

Endrick landed at Real Madrid with an unmeasured cargo of responsibility on his shoulders, but up until now, not only has he put up with it, but also he is surpassing the expectations. At just 18 years and 58 days, this promising attacker-considered one of the new jewels of the Brazilian national team-already wrote history with both his club and the UEFA Champions League. Netting in the 3-1 win over Stuttgart in the season opener of 2024/25, Endrick did not only help Real Madrid earn three points but also scored in the Champions League as the youngest player ever for the club.

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Replacing the long-standing record by Raúl González, this feat sets Endrick on a milestone path in order to follow in the footsteps of soccer legends. Raúl set the record back in 1995 at 18 years and 113 days, while nearly 30 years later, it is now time for a new wonderkid at Real Madrid-named Endrick.

Immediate impact of Endrick

That has been an immediate and powerful impact at Real Madrid: two goals in only 20 minutes of official play so far-one against Valladolid in the La Liga opener and another against Stuttgart in the Champions League. The numbers are impressive, yes, but what's more striking is how comfortable he already seems playing on one of the most demanding stages in world soccer: the Bernabéu.

In an interview with TNT Sports after the match, he showed maturity beyond his years: "I'm here to help Real Madrid win titles. Me and Mbappé are here for that. Everyone is used to winning, but they want more. In the Champions League, it won't be any different. It's a childhood dream to be here, debut and score a goal."

This announcement by the young player denotes that he, in spite of being very young, is clear about what it means to wear a Real Madrid jersey: It is not just to play great or score goals, one has to maintain the tradition of the Club in terms of victories. And he seems perfectly at ease with that responsibility.

Confidence that wows Carlo Ancelotti

And neither did head coach Carlo Ancelotti mince his words of praise for the young forward. He congratulated Endrick for having the confidence and courage to take the shot when perhaps the easier option was passing. "He had courage because the best option was taking advantage of the three-on-one, but he was confident he'd score, and he did very well. It was the hardest choice, but it worked," Ancelotti said after the match.

You can't teach that sort of confidence. That's just a great quality that defines players very early on. And when you see those young talents standing out at crucial moments, for sure, you're in front of someone special. And with the experience Ancelotti has, he must surely know what he is looking at.

Endrick didn't stop after scoring the goal but drew attention by how cool he kept during his plays. The powerful, accurate shot is one of the trademarks, which are being created by him bit by bit and with which he already charms the coach, public, and all the others. 

Record-breaking feats and impressive comparisons

Besides being the youngest player to score for Real Madrid in the Champions League, Endrick also became the youngest in the club's history to score in any international competition, beating over 122 years of Real Madrid history in that respect. The Brazilian now enters an elite group of players who made their mark at the club early on, something which not everyone can achieve, regardless of talent.

Endrick is proving he's ready to follow in the footsteps of legends. Even more amazing, though: He does it without showing he's feeling the weight of the shirt he's wearing. He just plays, takes his chances, and trusts in his ability.

The Brazilian influence at Real Madrid

Beyond the figures, what is really impressive about Endrick is his mentality: at 18, he is already a star, yet the boy keeps his feet on the ground. His remark regarding the breaking of "vases" every ten minutes of play reflects a relaxed, yet effective approach that seems to be part of the DNA of great Brazilian talents.

This composure under pressure also speaks to the fact that Endrick was raised through the ranks in Brazil and groomed to deal with expectations from the very early beginning of his career. When he came to Real Madrid, many people asked themselves whether he would be able to follow in the footsteps of other successful Brazilians at the club, the likes of Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, and Vinícius Júnior. And based on the way things have gone so far, it seems that he's on track to join that constellation of stars.