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Real Madrid and Brazil’s rising star Endrick has named Sir Bobby Charlton among his football idols, a revelation that came soon after he netted his first senior international goal for Brazil.

“One of my idols here is also Bobby Charlton,” said the 17-year-old Endrick while speaking to the media following his debut international goal for Brazil.

That moment arrived in a clash against England at Wembley Stadium a little over two years ago, when Endrick’s rebound strike was the only goal to separate the two teams on the night.

“Playing in the same stadium where Bobby played, and scoring on the day Ronaldo made his debut – these are memories that mean a lot to me,” he said after the match.

The comment took many by surprise, considering that the Manchester United legend had retired from playing more than three decades before the young Brazilian was even born, and on a different continent altogether.

His words reflected not only the worldwide fame of a figure like Charlton but also Endrick’s deep passion for understanding the game’s history and learning from those who came before him.

Speaking to FourFourTwo, Endrick said, “I’m a big fan of EA Sports FC and spend a lot of time playing Ultimate Team, where the Icons are the most sought-after players. Apart from Bobby Charlton, I also enjoy using Ruud Gullit in the game.”

“I began studying Charlton’s career because he was a forward but also played in midfield and was excellent defensively too,” he added.

It was through this video game that Endrick’s curiosity about Charlton grew deeper. The Brazilian forward began researching the legendary Englishman, who sadly passed away in 2023.

“I like learning about players that I get in the game but don’t know much about,” Endrick explained. “So I looked him up and found out that he played for Manchester United, won the European Cup, and was adored by the local supporters.”

“I really liked his story and used him often in the game because he had an incredible shot. Sadly, I never got to meet him, but I’ve seen several clips of him on TikTok,” he added.

It’s a refreshing quality that a young footballer like Endrick shows such genuine interest in legends from the past, even if his route to learning about them comes through modern channels.

When Endrick first joined Real Madrid in 2024, before being loaned to Lyon midway through the current season, he was affectionately nicknamed ‘Bobby’ by teammates Antonio Rudiger, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham.

“I always take it as a joke and actually like the nickname,” Endrick said with a smile. “It shows how positive and friendly the atmosphere is at Real Madrid.”

“But when it’s time for serious work, everyone calls me by my name and we focus on giving our best,” he continued.

“Here at Lyon, though, the nickname hasn’t stuck – everyone just calls me Endrick,” he concluded.