How a 17-year-old prodigy fired Brazil's shock win over England

There couldn't have been a more opportune moment for England to face Brazil than now. Throughout history, the Three Lions have struggled against the mighty five-time world champions, but Brazil's current state of affairs is rather grim. They find themselves knee-deep in crisis, having ended a calendar year with more defeats than victories for the first time since 1963. To exacerbate their woes, Brazil have suffered three consecutive losses in World Cup qualifiers, a situation never before witnessed in their storied history. It has even raised doubts about their qualification for the 2026 tournament.

Enter Dorival Junior, the newly appointed coach tasked with resurrecting the South American behemoth. After being turned down by several renowned tacticians, Brazil settled on Junior, whose managerial resume boasts a rather unremarkable track record. With 23 different spells at 20 different clubs, his experience is, shall we say, diverse. Junior candidly admits that he needs time to turn Brazil's fortunes around, acknowledging that England's world-class attacking prowess could easily overpower his struggling team.

However, by the end, it became abundantly clear that Junior's modesty was merely a diplomatic gesture. Instead, it was England coach Gareth Southgate who received a harsh reminder of the vulnerabilities within his supposedly formidable team.

England conceded too many chances to a Brazil side that was battling disillusionment at home after enduring their worst period in over 60 years. Despite the abundance of attacking talent at Southgate's disposal, England were missing the dynamic presence of Bukayo Saka, who excels at driving at deep-lying defenses. The absence of Harry Kane deprived them of a clinical finisher who thrives on those rare opportunities that arise in matches of this nature.

As the game seemed destined for a draw, the introduction of Brazil's teenage sensation Endrick off the bench breathed life into the match, ultimately proving to be the game-changer.

The 17-year-old is already the subject of great acclaim and anticipation. He has been heralded as the next big star to succeed Neymar and carry the torch for Brazilian football. The industry, ever eager to capitalize on emerging talent, has been quick to commodify his abilities since they first caught the eye. With his lightning-quick speed, dazzling agility and flair for creativity in tight spaces, it is no wonder he has earned a coveted move to Real Madrid this summer.

Despite his limited experience in senior football, watching Endrick in action on Saturday night was amazing. His fluid running and seamless ball control leave no doubt that he possesses an extraordinary gift. In the 80th minute, he finally got the goal he so deserved with a simple tap-in. England's appeals for offside fell on deaf ears, as Jordan Pickford's save from Vinicius Junior's shot fell perfectly for Endrick to convert.

It was a decisive moment – the kind that can convince a teenager of their destined greatness. One can only imagine the jubilation and satisfaction Endrick must have felt. His journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, overcoming significant hardships along the way. From his mother's experience with homelessness during his upbringing to his time spent in an orphanage, Endrick's path to success has been marked by incredible resilience.

Endrick has etched his name into Wembley history with his match-winning goal, becoming the youngest international goal-scorer at the iconic stadium. He also joins an exclusive club as the youngest player to score for Brazil since the legendary Ronaldo in 1994.

The chorus of boos that reverberated through the stadium upon the final whistle was, perhaps, an inevitable response. After all, it marked England's first defeat at Wembley in 21 games, dating back to their loss against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League in October 2020.

While the loss to Brazil can hardly be classified as a seismic shock, it served as a timely illustration of the recurring stumbling blocks that have hindered England's lofty aspirations. In striking contrast, Brazil, although lacking the star-studded constellation of past eras, exhibited their knack for unearthing exceptional talent once again. Endrick's emergence has added his name to their illustrious list, reaffirming Brazil's reputation as a breeding ground for footballing brilliance.