‘Football pays no heed to birth certificates’ | OneFootball

Brazilian football has always been different when it had the courage to look to youth. Our greatest chapters were written by talents who didn’t wait for the “ideal” age to take center stage. They simply stepped onto the pitch and delivered.

In 2010, Brazil made what many consider a historic mistake by failing to bet on Neymar and Ganso, two players who captivated the country and symbolized a necessary renewal. Time showed that talent does not wait.

In 2026, history seems to be repeating itself. Endrick was called up, but still has not been given enough minutes to show what he has already shown at club level and in the youth ranks. It is hard to understand how a striker with his explosiveness, personality, and decisiveness remains on the bench while the national team searches for attacking solutions.

Football does not respect birth certificates. It respects quality.

The greatest proof of that goes by the name of Pelé. At 17, in 1958, he took on the responsibility of a World Cup and entered eternity with decisive goals and unforgettable performances. If they had waited for “the right moment,” perhaps the greatest player in history would never have written that page.

Endrick carries that same boldness that has always defined Brazil’s great stars. This is not about comparing him to Pelé, because comparisons of that magnitude are unfair to any athlete. It is about remembering that Brazil has always shone brightest when it had the courage to trust its young talents.

Whoever wears the yellow shirt needs an opportunity to prove their worth. And today, there is a feeling that Endrick would be a starter for practically any national team in the world, yet he is still waiting for his chance precisely in the national team of the country that has produced more football geniuses than any other.

If the past teaches us anything, it is that the fear of betting on young players usually comes at a high cost. And Brazil should have learned that lesson by now.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.