Endrick’s limited World Cup role—just 34 minutes in the group stage—has added pressure to an already complicated battle for playing time at Real Madrid, where José Mourinho is pushing for a more traditional penalty-box striker.
Endrick’s World Cup run has been quieter than the moments around it suggested it would be. Through the group stage, he has played just 34 minutes, and the rotation has left him largely waiting while Carlo Ancelotti keeps the spotlight on other options.
A big reason has been Raphinha’s injury, which ruled him out of the tournament. With that absence. Rayan has become Ancelotti’s preferred option. and Endrick has been reduced to brief late appearances against Haiti and Scotland. The question now isn’t whether he can contribute—it’s how much space he will be given once the knockout rounds begin.
That uncertainty lands on top of a Real Madrid situation that has never been fully settled for him. In his first season under Carlo Ancelotti, he failed to reach 1,000 minutes but still produced seven goals and an assist. His second season started with an injury, and Xabi Alonso made the pecking order clear: Gonzalo was ahead.
Madrid reacted by arranging a winter loan to Lyon for regular playing time. Endrick made the most of it, finishing the second half of the season with eight goals and eight assists. Those numbers helped him earn a place at the World Cup and set up his return to Madrid—after the club paid Palmeiras a guaranteed $35 million. with another $25 million in performance-related bonuses.
Now, a new challenge waits back in Madrid. Endrick will have to convince José Mourinho, the club’s incoming head coach, who has already signaled a preference for a more traditional penalty-box striker. Mourinho’s idea is for a player in the mold of Joselu to provide cover for Kylian Mbappé.
It’s not framed as an immediate priority, which matters because it could decide whether Madrid enters the transfer market. If that doesn’t happen. the role may fall to Gonzalo. and the academy product—once looking almost certain to leave—no longer appears expected to do so. Mourinho will make the final call once preseason begins.
The club insists its plans for Endrick haven’t changed. Real Madrid still views him as a major long-term investment and fully expects him to be part of next season’s squad. But with Gonzalo’s likely involvement, his opportunities could shrink again.
Endrick could still receive minutes on the right wing while Rodrygo continues to recover from injury. There is also growing momentum around a loan move for Mastantuono, another highly rated Madrid prospect, whose development has not gone as expected so far.
For now. the story has turned into a familiar one: Endrick arrives with the talent to demand minutes. but circumstances—first in Madrid under different coaches. now at the World Cup—have kept him on the edges. The next phase will be decided by who Mourinho trusts when preseason starts. and whether Ancelotti’s knockout rotations open enough doors to let him seize the moment.
Endrick Real Madrid José Mourinho Carlo Ancelotti World Cup Raphinha injury Rayan Gonzalo Joselu Kylian Mbappé Rodrygo injury Mastantuono Lyon loan Palmeiras payment
34 minutes? That’s like barely even playing lol.
Real Madrid always finds some way to mess up the young guys. Mourinho coming in and now he’s just waiting around?? Sounds brutal. Also Raphinha being hurt is wild.
So if Endrick only had 34 minutes in group stage, does that mean he’s not good at all or what? I keep seeing “pressure” but like… minutes don’t lie I guess. Mourinho wants a penalty-box striker so maybe they should’ve picked someone else instead of paying all that money to Palmeiras.
Mourinho is pushing for Joselu type, but Ancelotti was the one giving him that loan to Lyon and then he suddenly scored a bunch, so idk why everyone’s acting like the ship already sunk. $35 mil plus $25 mil bonuses too… like that’s a lot to just have him coming on late vs Haiti and Scotland. And they say “knockout rounds” like he’ll magically get more space, but Real Madrid rotation is always a mess anyway.