It has been 14 years since a street game in the central Brazilian plains witnessed a diminutive three-year-old pull off a spectacular, fully-rotated overhead bicycle kick, sending the raggedy ball rocketing across the goal. 

The neighborhood boys swarmed the tiny Phenom, who dribbled and juggled well beyond his years, bringing to the uneven streets the kind of football joy that people felt when they saw the game’s greats in their infancy. At that moment, Douglas de Sousa da Silva knew his young son Endrick was no ordinary child.

In the years since, the once-in-a-generation prodigy has dedicated himself to making his father proud, taking his family to Sao Paulo and into the ranks of the farm club for the storied Palmeiras club, where two years ago he became the sensation of the year, scoring 16 goals in 21 matches during the 2022 U-20 Copinha tournament. That put him on radar screens nationally and internationally at just 15. He signed with Palmeiras at 16, becoming their youngest starter two months later. 

With world attention and scouts beating at the door of Palmeiras, he was traded to Europe's top club Real Madrid for a record fee of $63.6 million, one of the biggest in the history of Brazilian football. Now, the teenage man-child is standing on the precipice of international superstardom, his name among the constellation of stars called to Brazil's senior national squad.

The streets of Valparaiso in Brazil’s Gioias state, where he grew up, and the concrete canyons of Sao Paulo, where he now plays, brim with pride at the announcement that Endrick received his first call-up to Brazil's senior national team. 

"It is an immense pride for all of us," say people who helped his journey as a child. Mention his name in Valparaiso and stories of how he has always outplayed those older than himself come one after the other.

The humming has already begun throughout the country and it says Brazilian football has found its next ‘Pele’! Endrick joins the team on a high after netting three goals across his last two matches for Palmeiras, helping propel the São Paulo side into the Brazilian league title race just as the season hits its decisive final stretch.

His mature performances dispel any notion that the hype outweighs his abilities. Still not 18 until July, his play continues to belie his age. "He’s a player with the potential to be one of the great talents," Brazil coach Fernando Diniz said in announcing the latest squad. "I don’t know if that will be confirmed or not. This call-up is not meant as pressure; it’s a reward."

Diniz says he has been blown away watching a teenager already producing at such a remarkably high level. "What this kid has been doing for a long time now catches my attention. And right now, he's living his best moment playing against top teams in Brazil and managing to stand out."

For the team, "Endrick's inclusion signals a bit of what the future could look like," noted Dinitz, hinting at long-term plans.

Now Endrick has the chance to reward Brazil’s faith on the international stage. If called upon against Argentina or Colombia in the upcoming friendlies, he would become the Selecao’s youngest debutant since Ronaldo himself in 1993. Quite fitting, given the incessant comparisons to the legendary striker that have followed Endrick throughout his young career.

The call-up also provides a sneak preview of Endrick’s club future. He’ll share the pitch with soon-to-be Real Madrid teammates Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, who were also named to the squad. 

The newest jewel of Brazilian football however seems cautious over the craze. Speaking to the media recently, Endrick stated, “My strength is willpower. I wake up focused on what I have to do on pitch.” Reacting to the praise that he is literally the successor of Romario and Ronaldo, the CR-7 admirer said, “Every young athlete is inspired by players who have left their mark on the history of Brazilian football. My goal is to build my own trajectory, to be known for my story."