Endrick in the national team: what explains the loss of playing time and the role of tactical positioning?

Forward Endrick, one of the great promises of Brazilian football, is experiencing an important transition in his career: he left Palmeiras, arrived at Real Madrid in 2024, and began competing for a place in a Brazilian National Team undergoing renewal, now under the command of Dorival Júnior. In this scenario, many people wonder why the player, previously seen as an "almost certain" starter for the next cycle, seems to have lost ground in recent call-ups and playing time, despite his enormous potential.

Understanding this situation involves three main points: the current competition in the national team's attack, Endrick's adaptation to European football, and how he has been used tactically, both in the national team and at his club. Below is an analysis based on the latest news, interviews, and official matches, focusing on reliable information and avoiding exaggeration.

Current context: call-up, competition, and current form at the club.

Since his debut for the senior national team, while still playing for Palmeiras, Endrick has gained significant attention in the Brazilian and international press. Goals in friendlies against major national teams, such as England and Spain, fueled expectations that he could quickly become Brazil's main attacking threat.

However, the scenario in 2024 and 2025 is much more competitive than it seemed at the beginning. Dorival Júnior has been testing different offensive formations, and the fight for playing time includes names like:

• Vinícius Júnior, established as a key player for Real Madrid and the national team;
• Rodrygo, versatile, capable of playing as a winger, false 9 or attacking midfielder;
• Raphinha, which offers depth and breadth on the right side;
• Other center forwards or second strikers who can be called upon depending on the form, such as Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Evanílson, among others, depending on the moment.

At the same time, Endrick arrives at Real Madrid as a young player adapting to a star-studded squad, with fierce competition for positions. In many matches, coach Carlo Ancelotti opts to maintain a solid base, giving the Brazilian playing time gradually, without "skipping steps." This is common with very young players in Europe, especially at elite clubs.

This context of adaptation directly impacts the perception that the national team's coaching staff has about the player's current form. National teams rarely base their decisions solely on potential; recent performance at a high competitive level – Champions League, La Liga, major leagues – weighs heavily when deciding who starts and who comes on in the second half.

The role of tactical positioning: where does Endrick perform best?

One point frequently debated by analysts is Endrick's best role on the field. At Palmeiras, under Abel Ferreira's command, he had moments playing as a more fixed center forward, but he also appeared dropping back to receive the ball, attacking spaces with speed and moving around both sides of the field. This versatility is one of his main virtues, but it also raises a question: what, after all, is his ideal role in the national team?

Center forward vs. second striker

In the national team, Dorival has been alternating between different attacking models, sometimes with a more fixed number 9, sometimes with a more mobile trio. Endrick fits better in a mobile attacking context, with freedom to roam, work short passes and attack the area diagonally, instead of being stuck between the defenders as the sole reference point.

When deployed as a classic "number 9," with the primary task of holding off defenders, competing for the ball, and serving as a continuous support point, he tends to participate less in the game, especially if the team can't connect midfielders and wingers. This can give the impression that he's "missing" on the field, which weighs on the overall assessment, including among fans.

In games where you find more freedom to:

• to fall to the sides, especially to the left side;
• to move closer to the central midfielder to play a one-two;
• attack the space behind the defense coming from behind, instead of staying planted between the defenders;

Their performance tends to be higher, with a greater number of shots on goal, involvement in goal-scoring plays, and visual impact on the match.

Synergy with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo

Another point that directly affects Endrick's playing time is the need to fit players who are already key players at their clubs into the same team. Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo, for example, also play for Real Madrid and already have their own established dynamic, both at club and national team level.

When Vini occupies the left flank, moving from the outside in, the central space becomes more congested. If Endrick is also deployed, the movement needs to be adjusted so that the two don't compete for the same corridor. In practice, this can lead the coach to:

• keep Endrick more central, bringing it closer to a pure 9 function; or
• Use it only for a few minutes of each game, so as not to disrupt the already established tactical structure.

This search for collective fit, more than any "sudden drop in performance," helps to understand why the striker isn't always the first option off the bench, even with evident talent.

Recent analysis: why does the feeling of loss of space appear in the news?

Sports portals, such as ge.globo, International media outlets have been highlighting some common aspects in recent months when discussing Endrick: extremely high potential, but a need for adaptation time, tactical adjustments, and consistency at a high level.

In recent games of the Brazilian National Team, it is possible to notice:

• Controlled playing time for Endrick, often coming on in the second half;
• Choosing strikers who are already established as starters or technical leaders of the team;
• Comments from the coaching staff emphasizing patience, responsibility in managing the athlete's career, and a focus on gradual development.

This leads to headlines and debates pointing to a "loss of playing time," when, in practice, what seems to be happening is a management of minutes and expectations typical for 18-year-old players newly arrived in European football, especially at giant clubs like Real Madrid.

One factor that frequently appears in tactical analyses is the need for Endrick to improve:

• The amount of pressure applied without the ball, during the opponent's build-up play;
• a⁤ quick decision-making in confined spaces against tighter defenses;
• a fine understanding of when to drop back to create numerical superiority in the middle and when to stay in the back line to threaten in depth.

These details, which often escape the more superficial eye, make the difference between being "just" a great promise or becoming an absolute starter in a top-level national team.

What to expect from Endrick in the medium term.

As Endrick accumulates more minutes for Real Madrid, especially in competitions like La Liga and the Champions League, the trend is that he will arrive at the FIFA dates with a higher match rhythm and a wider repertoire of specific movements in the role that the club defines for him.

If he is established at Real Madrid as a mobile second striker, working in sync with other elite strikers, this could be reflected positively in the national team, paving the way for formations in which:

• Vinícius plays wide on the left;
• Endrick moves between the center and the right side, attacking the space behind the defense;
• Rodrygo should have more freedom as an attacking midfielder, appearing between the lines.

On the other hand, if Ancelotti (or the current coach) sees Endrick more as a reference number 9, the national team may choose to use him in a similar way, demanding greater physical presence in the area, back-to-goal play, and constant duels with defenders.

In both scenarios, tactical development and mental maturity will be decisive. Fan pressure, media expectations, and comparisons with great names of the past are all part of the package, but how the player and the coaching staff deal with it defines the course of their career.

Conclusion: space in dispute, but potential intact.

Endrick's current situation with the Brazilian national team shouldn't be interpreted as a "premature decline," but rather as a natural part of the development process for a very young player in a high-level environment. Competition with established stars, adaptation to Real Madrid, and fine-tuning his tactical positioning explain why he isn't always a starter or a key player in every match.

For those who follow closely, the most important thing is to understand that the trajectory of great strikers is rarely linear. Controlled minutes, changes of role on the field, and fluctuations are all part of the learning process. Endrick's talent remains evident; what is at stake now is how this talent will be honed so that, in the near future, he can not only fight for a place but assume a leadership role in the Brazilian National Team.

And you, how do you see Endrick's current form? Do you think he should have more minutes with the national team, or is the current process the most appropriate? Leave your opinion, discuss tactics, and share this article with those who also closely follow the evolution of the new generations of Brazilian football.