I want to be known for my story
THE WEEK India|October 16, 2022
Sports commentators have variously described him as a “force of nature”, “the newest jewel of Brazilian football”, and in moments of extreme excitement, “the future of world football”. They are overawed by his skill with both the right and the left foot, and his precision shooting. The world sat up and took note when he became the breakout star of Brazil’s Copinha (Under-20 championship) cup early this year. Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa has that effect on you. At 16, he is so skilled yet so grounded and focused, something uncommon among teenagers in Brazil, where the pleasures of life are there for you to pluck.
MILAN SIME MARTINIC
I want to be known for my story

The pride of São Paulo’s Palmeiras Club is being watched closely by top English and European clubs. Speaking exclusively to THE WEEK, Endrick credits his father and Palmeiras for always believing in him. His success, he says, is the product of years of hard work and sacrifice.

He has been compared with Brazilian stars Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Ronaldo and Romario, though his idol is Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. But he told us that he does not compare himself with any other player. “I believe that each player has his own qualities and characteristics,” he says. Excerpts from the interview:

Your family was poor while you were growing up. What do you want to do for your father? Do you remember the time he took you to Palmeiras?

It was a very important moment in our lives. Palmeiras always believed in me, the club bet on my future and, since then, it has allowed me to fulfil the dream of transforming my family’s life. When I left Brasilia, my father accompanied me and was welcomed by Palmeiras, that made all the difference. I worked hard from the day I arrived to show my football on the pitch, giving my best in all competitions. The signing of the professional contract was just the result of everything we planned since the beginning.

You have been dubbed the next big thing in Brazilian football. Do you think the pressure imposed by expectations is too much?

Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin October 16, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin October 16, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

THE WEEK INDIA DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?
THE WEEK India

What Will It Take To Clean Up Delhi Air?

IT IS ASKED, year after year, why Delhi’s air remains unbreathable despite several interventions to reduce pollution.

time-read
5 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Trump and the crisis of liberalism
THE WEEK India

Trump and the crisis of liberalism

Although Donald Trump's election to a non-consecutive second term to the US presidency is not unprecedented—Grover Cleveland had done it in 1893—it is nevertheless a watershed moment.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Men eye the woman's purse
THE WEEK India

Men eye the woman's purse

A couple of months ago, I chanced upon a young 20-something man at my gym walking out with a women’s sling bag.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 08, 2024
When trees hold hands
THE WEEK India

When trees hold hands

A filmmaker explores the human-nature connect through the living root bridges

time-read
3 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Ms Gee & Gen Z
THE WEEK India

Ms Gee & Gen Z

The vibrant Anuja Chauhan and her daughter Nayantara on the generational gap in romance writing

time-read
5 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Vikram Seth-a suitable man
THE WEEK India

Vikram Seth-a suitable man

Our golden boy of literature was the star attraction at the recent Shillong Literary Festival in mysterious Meghalaya.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Superman bites the dust
THE WEEK India

Superman bites the dust

When my granddaughter Kim was about three, I often took her to play in a nearby park.

time-read
3 dak  |
December 08, 2024
OLD MAN AND THE SEA
THE WEEK India

OLD MAN AND THE SEA

Meet G. Govinda Menon, the 102-year-old engineer who had a key role in surveying the Vizhinjam coast in the 1940s, assessing its potential for an international port

time-read
4 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets
THE WEEK India

Managing volatility: smarter equity choices in uncertain markets

THE INDIAN STOCK MARKET has delivered a strong 11 per cent CAGR over the past decade, with positive returns for eight straight years.

time-read
3 dak  |
December 08, 2024
Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay
THE WEEK India

Investing in actively managed low-volatility portfolios keeps risks at bay

AFTER A ROARING bull market over the past year, equity markets in the recent months have gone into a correction mode as FIIs go on a selling spree. Volatility has risen and investment returns are hurt.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 08, 2024