Ronaldo regrets that Brazil did not call the 16-year-old prodigy

There are nine strikers named by coach Tite in the list of 26 Brazilian players for the 2022 World Cup announced on November 7. This number has the brightest attacking stars like Neymar, Vinicius, Raphinha, Gabriel Jesus or Richarlison, but missing some names like Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Barbosa, Matheus Cunha or Philippe Coutinho.

According to Ronaldo, the most unfortunate absence is Endrick - the 16-year-old striker of Palmeiras. "If I had to choose one person to be on the final list, with few options, I would put Endrick's name. It would be a great experience for Endrick, and a decision for the future of Brazilian football," the 46-year-old former player said. age said on Ronaldo TV on November 8.

Endrick just turned 16, and started playing professionally last month. Ronaldo admitted that Endrick cannot compete for an official position on the national team, but having experience in the 2022 World Cup will help the striker born in 2006 gain experience and mature.

Ronaldo also cited the fact that he was named on the list by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to attend the 1994 World Cup, or coach Luiz Felipe Scolari gave Kaka a chance at the 2002 World Cup. Ronaldo did not play a minute at the 1994 tournament, where Brazil defeated Italy 3-2 in the penalty shootout in the final. But in 2002, "Alien" shined when he won the top scorer with eight goals, including a brace to help Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the final to win the world championship for the fifth time in history.

At the 2022 World Cup, Brazil is in Group G, playing against Serbia on November 25, Switzerland on November 28 and Cameroon on December 3. Brazil holds the record of winning the World Cup five times, but hasn't won it since 2002, with a generation of legends like Lucio, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo himself.

Endrick joined the Palmeiras youth team at the age of 11, scoring 165 goals in 169 games in five years. At the 2022 Sao Paulo Junior Cup, Endrick made a splash when he scored seven goals in seven matches, was voted the best player in the tournament, greatly contributed to Palmeiras winning the championship. After the tournament, he was targeted by a series of European giants, including Man Utd, Man City, Barca and Real. The Sao Paulo Junior Cup - a playground for the U20s of Brazilian teams mainly from Sao Paulo - is a tournament that has helped many Brazilian stars come to light, such as Neymar, Vinicius or Casemiro.

Under Brazilian law, Endrick cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 16 for a maximum of three years. In the summer of 2022, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Endrick signed his first professional contract with Palmeiras until 2025, with a release clause of $ 60 million.

Endrick played his first professional game on October 6, when he came on as a substitute in Palmeiras' 4-0 win over Coritiba. At the age of 16, he became the youngest player ever to play for Palmeiras. Endrick scored twice in a 3-1 win over Athletico Paranaense on October 25, becoming the second youngest goalscorer in Brazilian league history, after Toninho de Matos.

Also under Brazilian law, Endrick is not allowed to play for a European club before the age of 18. Experts say that Palmeiras will not be able to keep Endrick beyond July 21, 2024, when he turns 18.