Emotional Endrick opens up: "Football isn't a nice place, I cried several times"

Endrick has opened up on the emotional toll of a difficult season, admitting he endured "a night of doubts" as his hopes of making the Brazil national football team's World Cup squad hung in the balance.

With less than a month before Carlo Ancelotti names his squad, the 19-year-old forward has rediscovered form on loan at Olympique Lyon, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists in 18 appearances. But his path back has been far from straightforward.

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Limited opportunities at Real Madrid following the arrival of Xabi Alonso, combined with injury setbacks, left Endrick fearing his chance had slipped away.

"It was a night of doubts and a sense of urgency. I knew it could be my last chance," he told The Guardian, reflecting on Brazil's March meeting with Croatia.

"I prayed a lot. I knew that day could be a turning point for me."

Endrick played just 15 minutes that night, but made a decisive impact - winning a penalty and assisting Gabriel Martinelli in a 3-1 win.

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The performance marked a shift not only in form, but in mindset.

"I no longer pay attention to what others say," he added. "When you ignore what happens off the pitch, you start performing better on it."

Earlier in his career, he admits, criticism and social media weighed heavily.

"I'd go straight to social media after games to see what people were saying. I wanted my ego inflated, but that's not a good thing. Now I stay calm and focus on recovery. I don't care about that criticism any more. Football isn't a nice place. It's a very tough environment," he said.

It was especially challenging during his injury struggles in his early months in Madrid.

"I was really afraid. I cried several times," Endrick added: "When you get injured, you lose everything, the chance to fight for your place. You get scared of the future."

Support from teammates has been key to his adjustment, particularly from Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric at the Bernabeu.

"Bellingham made me feel welcome from the start," he said.

"And Modric, he was a masterclass every day. Even at 40, always training, always helping. Incredible."

Despite his resurgence, Endrick's place in Brazil's squad is not yet secure. With three games remaining at Lyon, the teenager knows the margin for error is slim.

"My first desire is to play the World Cup. I need to be there. I'll do my best to help Brazil," he concluded.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 32

Saturday

16.00: (4.45) Nantes (4.15) Olympique Marseille (1.70)

18.00: (1.32) PSG (5.70) Lorient (8.50)

20.00: (6.40) Metz (5.10) Monaco (1.42)

22.05: (4.60) Nice (3.60) Lens (1.80)

Sunday

16.00: (1.40) Lille (4.50) Le Havre (8.50)

18.15: (1.75) Auxerre (3.50) Angers (5.00)

18.15: (2.05) Paris (3.45) Brest (3.60)

18.15: (2.60) Strasbourg (3.35) Toulouse (2.70)

21.45: (2.25) Olympique Lyon (3.50) Rennes (3.10)

***odds are subject to change***