Real Madrid have high hopes for Br azilian teenager Endrick, whose presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu was still a big deal for the club despite coming a few days after Kylian Mbappe’s monumental one – the biggest since his idol Cristiano Ronaldo showed up at the venue more than a decade ago.
Although Endrick became meme material for a rather poor Copa America, the 17-year-old Palmeiras product was sensational for the national team in earlier appearances, including scoring a goal against Euro 2024 finalists England in a friendly.
There was some intriguing regarding the kit number Endrick will wear in the 2024/25 season a a first-year Real Madrid player, especially since most of the marquee numbers are gone.
Vinicius Junior is following in Cris’s footsteps as the No. 7, the other great Br azilian forward Rodrygo Goes wears the No. 11, and Kylian Mbappe is taking over for close friend Karim Benzema as the No. 9 – by the way, the first number Cristiano wore at Real Madrid.
Mbappe could take the No. 10 in the future, but, for now, that belongs to Luka Modric, who agreed to take on a rotational role and prolong his career with Real Madrid for at least one more season.
According to Ben Fernandes of Diario AS, Endrick will wear the No. 16 for Real Madrid, which is an unorthodox number most recently worn by Lucas Silva, but because it is so unknown, Endrick has a chance to make it his own.
That’s ideal for a younger player arriving at Real Madrid. The jersey carries only the weight of the crest and not the number associated with a previous name on the back of it.
Endrick can run with it and, perhaps, add some symbolism to it by winning the 16th Champions League title in the existence of Real Madrid as a key part of the attacking rotation with the 16 on his back, making it iconic on his own terms.
Raul, Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, James Rodriguez, Sergio Canales, Fernando Hierro, Ivan Zamorano, Juanito, and Emilio Butragueno are all notable Real Madrid players who have donned the No. 16 in the past.
So even though the kit number is not associated with anyone specific, Endrick will have the strength of a lot of icons before him lifting him up on European nights at the Bernabeu when he needs the extra support.