Endrick has become a phenomenon in France after his excellent performance with Lyon. When the player decided to change his mind due to the lack of minutes at Real Madrid, one of his main arguments, apart from earning a place, was to at least be in the running for a place in the World Cup squad. It was Carlo Ancelotti himself, who knows him well from his last campaign at Madrid, who advised him to change his mind in order to play again and have World Cup options.Endrick has achieved his great goal, to succeed in Lyon and there are his numbers. In eight games, he has already scored five goals and four assists. Since leaving Madrid, Mbappe has scored nine goals and one assist, but in nine games, while Vinicius has seven goals and three assists, but in 12 games. Endrick, therefore, has intervened in 10 goal actions like his former teammates, but in fewer games.

There is now one more argument in Endrick's favor. The unfortunate news that he learned yesterday of the serious injury to his former Real Madrid teammate opens another door for him for the World Cup. Rodrygo suffered a rupture of the internal lateral ligament and external meniscus and will be out for between 10 and 12 months. The truth is that he was a great candidate for Ancelotti to be at the World Cup despite the fact that this was not his year.

Endrick was at a disadvantage compared to many of the other contenders, but he is earning Ancelotti's trust. The player is on loan, with no option to buy, and it is expected that he will return next season after the great campaign he is having at Lyon.

His competitors for a place with Brazil

For years, Brazil has been waiting for a striker to emerge who will make everyone fall in love with him and agree that he is the real deal. The fans believe that Endrick has everything it takes to be that player. There are currently no undisputed number nines in the squad. For the position, Endrick's rivals are Richarlison, who usually has Ancelotti's confidence, while the Italian also has Joao Pedro and Cunha on his agenda. There is another young striker who is making things difficult for Ancelotti, Igor Jesus, who is showing his goalscoring instinct with Nottingham Forest.

The race is not over yet. There is still a season to go, but the list for the two friendlies before the World Cup will be very revealing, also in the United States, against France on the 26th and on April 1 against Croatia.