On 25/1, Endrick scored three goals in Lyon's 5-2 victory over Metz in Ligue 1's 19th round. At 19 years and 188 days old, he became the youngest Brazilian player to achieve a hat-trick in Europe's five top national leagues: Ligue 1, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga.
Ronaldo De Lima, the legend who won two World Cup titles and two Ballon d'Or awards, now holds the second position. His previous record was set at 20 years and one month old when he scored a hat-trick in Barca's 3-2 win against Valencia in La Liga's 10th round on 26/10/1996.
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Endrick celebrates a goal during the Metz 2-5 Lyon match in Ligue 1's 19th round on 25/1. *Photo: AFP* |
For over a year, Endrick struggled to secure a place at Real. This forced the Brazilian prodigy to join Lyon on a six-month loan, aiming to secure a spot for the World Cup 2026. However, after playing just three matches for his new club, he has made everyone question Real's player management strategy.
In his debut match against Lille in the French Cup's round of 16, Endrick took only 25 minutes to score. In last week's game against Brest, he assisted Abner and consistently posed a threat from the right wing. Then, in his third match, he shook Metz's Saint-Symphorien stadium with a hat-trick.
His recent performances demonstrate that Endrick is not a player struggling to adapt to European football. Instead, he is a natural talent, a world-class player, and a rough diamond needing proper polishing to shine.
"In his third match, Endrick's tally rose to four goals and one assist. This shows that good players do not need time to adapt," L'Equipe stated, giving him a rating of 9 out of 10.
The secret to Endrick's resurgence lies in coach Paulo Fonseca's management. It was Fonseca, who previously managed Porto, Roma, and AC Milan, who called and persuaded the young Brazilian star to join Lyon in November 2025. He boldly placed his new player on the right wing, allowing him to play as freely as possible, even making him the focal point of all attacks. In this ideal environment, Endrick has been able to fully unleash his dribbling ability, strength, creativity, and powerful shots.
Lyon is currently ranked 4th in Ligue 1, has reached the French Cup's round of 8, and leads their Europa League group. With Endrick's improved form, they are fully capable of securing a Champions League spot and their first title after a 13-year wait.
For Real, Endrick's positive transformation presents a significant challenge. Will President Florentino Perez be bold enough to sell Rodrygo and entrust the right wing to a player five years younger, or will they maintain their current approach? Rodrygo has scored 71 goals in 294 matches for Real, being a key component in the squad that won two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles in five years.
Thanh Quy (according to AS)
