Endrick’s first goal at the Bernabeu: The family hugs, the knee-slide and the signature celebration

One of the most anticipated images of the pre-match build-up, Endrick and Lamine Yamal’s handshake in the tunnel outside the dressing rooms, was a foreshadowing of the exciting night that awaited as Brazil took on Spain at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Real Madrid gem, who will join Los Blancos this summer from Palmeiras, and the Barcelona talent dominated the present — and sent a warning to everyone for the future.

When all the flashbulbs were pointed at the Catalan, who was playing for the first time at the Bernabeu, Endrick also lit up the ground he will soon call home on his debut there.

Before the 3-3 draw, The Athletic had the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Endrick’s family, accompanied by the relatives of Vinicius Junior, with whom he shares an agency.

The excitement was real and not in vain. They commented on how special Endrick’s first visit to the stadium had been last December, when he watched Madrid’s match against Villarreal from the VIP box.

But they wanted more. And Endrick did too, spurred on by Tuesday’s training session at Valdebebas, Madrid’s training ground.

GO DEEPER

Inside the deal that saw Real Madrid win the race for Endrick, the Brazilian wonderkid

As the line-ups were announced over the public address system, the young striker was made to feel at home. His name, like those of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, was chanted.

There were more Real-centric details from the stands, such as an insistent request for Joselu to come on and the whistling of Spain captain Alvaro Morata, with whom Real Madrid fans have been at odds since his move to Atletico Madrid in 2019. By contrast, regardless of the fact that he plays for Barcelona, Yamal was warmly applauded when he was substituted.

And no wonder. No one could match his impact (he won two penalties and assisted Dani Olmo’s effort) and prominence, but Endrick was the one who came closest.

Brazil head coach Dorival Junior is showing more and more confidence in him. That’s why, along with five other team-mates, he had him warming up moments after Spain made it 2-0.

All eyes were on Endrick, especially when, at the end of the half-time, he took off his sweatshirt and was seen wearing the Brazil shirt with the number 21 on his back. It was the moment.

As he waited to enter, Endrick greeted Joselu, whose team-mate he will be if Real Madrid exercise the option to buy that they agreed with Espanyol on his loan deal.

As he entered the pitch, Endrick could hear the applause over the whistles, with the many Brazilians and Madrid fans present in the stands supporting him.

He formed an attacking partnership with Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo in an iconic image that seemed to illustrate the synergy between Brazil and Madrid.

Endrick was immediately in high spirits, pressing and asking his team-mates to do the same. And then suddenly — bang! The talented youngster took advantage of a rebound in the box to bring Brazil back to the match with a left-footed shot. The noise was not like a Spanish goal but it was not far off.

Brazil’s players followed Endrick’s run to the corner. He put his hand to his heart, slid across the turf on his knees and performed a gesture that is fast becoming his signature celebration, his arm outstretched as if offering a handshake.

Endrick celebrates equalising against Spain (Pierre-Philippe Marcou/AFP via Getty Images)

He also embraced his father, Douglas, who was overcome with emotion in the stands. How could he not be? Less than five minutes after making his debut at the Bernabeu, Endrick had scored a goal, just three days after scoring the winning goal nine minutes after making his debut at Wembley.

And all while he is still 17 years old.

“Tem estrela! (a Brazilian expression, meaning ‘He’s got a star!’),” a Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) executive told The Athletic in the mixed zone after the match.

A muscular problem he suffered soon afterwards almost caused a scare. There was some concern as Endrick was checked by the doctors on the touchline, but the teenager played on.

There was also a heated exchange with Marc Cucurella, who attempted to stop him with his arms at one point. Endrick responded with several kicks and a brawl resulted between the teams. Vinicius Jr, in captain and ‘big brother’ mode, leapt to his defence.

Endrick apologised in the heat of the moment and again when things had cooled off, giving Cucurella a hug. That happened away from the focus of the cameras, in the 85th minute, as the two teams argued over a second, harsh penalty in Spain’s favour.

After celebrating the 3-3 draw in style after the referee blew the final whistle, Endrick went straight to the stands. He gifted his shirt to his family and kissed his girlfriend.

Afterwards, he greeted some team-mates and received a warm embrace from Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the CBF. He was also approached by Rodrigo Lasmar, the five-time world champions’ doctor, about his muscular problem.

“I spoke about it on Monday at dinner; I dreamed of scoring my first goal at the Bernabeu,” Endrick told Spanish television. “Nobody is better than anyone else here and I owe these two goals to my team-mates and to Dorival for his confidence.”

He then had a meeting with Florentino Perez and Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras and head of the CBF delegation in this FIFA window. The Real Madrid president went down to the players’ area and met Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo — who gave him his shirt — and Endrick.

“We’re all waiting for you here,” Perez told Endrick.

Not bad for a first night at your new home, but Endrick will have plenty of other chances to star in Madrid in the near future — dressed in white.

(Top photo: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)