Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa stepped onto the pitch on June 20, 2026, and officially became a World Cup player. The 19-year-old Real Madrid forward made his tournament debut as a substitute in Brazil’s 3-0 victory over Haiti, a result that steadied the Selecao after a shaky start to their campaign.
Brazil needed this. Their opening group-stage match against Morocco ended in a disappointing 1-1 draw, and Endrick didn’t feature in that game.
The kid Real Madrid has been waiting on
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has described Endrick as an “extraordinary talent” while taking a measured approach to his development, indicating he will be utilized effectively at crucial moments.
Brazil legend Ronaldo has publicly endorsed Endrick’s readiness for the tournament, comparing him to other notable players who burst onto the international scene at a young age.
At 19, having just celebrated his birthday earlier in June, Endrick joins a long tradition of Brazilian teenagers making their mark at the World Cup.
A digital footnote, and why it doesn’t matter
Back in 2022, while still at Palmeiras, Endrick sold a digital collectible NFT for approximately R$30,000. That was a different era in both NFT markets and Endrick’s career, and it has zero connection to his current World Cup activities.
No fan tokens have surged. No meme coins have launched on the back of his debut. No partnership announcements have materialized. Endrick’s World Cup moment is, refreshingly, just about football.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

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