Endrick Felipe grew up in a family that faced tough times, where his father struggled to provide for them. Witnessing these challenges firsthand, Endrick made a promise to himself that he would become a professional footballer to change their circumstances. From a young age, his talent shone through in the lower divisions of Palmeiras, where he scored an impressive 165 goals in 169 games. One memorable moment was his bicycle kick goal in the under-11 Sao Paulo State Championship finals.
This story delves into the journey of a boy whose father recognized his soccer talent and shared it on YouTube. This decision attracted the attention of top teams, leading to opportunities for Endrick. To support his son’s dreams and ensure the family’s survival, Endrick’s father worked as a janitor for his youth team.
Endrick Felipe: Rising Star of Brazilian Football
Step into the world of Endrick Felipe, where every kick of the ball is a step closer to his dreams.
Raised by Douglas de Sousa and CÃntia Ramos Moreira, Endrick’s journey is more than his achievements on the pitch—it’s about the bonds with his brother Noah, the guidance from his grandparents Teresa Sousa and Jose Louvado, and a life infused with the vibrant culture of Brazil. Dive into his story, where football and family intertwine.
Preamble:
Endrick Felipe’s Biography begins by telling you notable events of his Boyhood and Early Life.
Next, we’ll explain his early career years in Taguatinga, Federal District, Brazil. Finally, we’ll tell you how the Brazilian Rising starlet landed in the books of Real Madrid.
We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as you read this engaging piece of Endrick Felipe’s Biography.
To begin right away, let’s present you a gallery that tells his story – from his baby years to the moment of Stardom. Truth be told, Endrick has come a long way.
The Biography of Endrick Felipe – From his baby years to the moments he became famous.
Yes, everyone knows the Brazilian is an athletically gifted football prospect. Endrick is a footballer whose ability is far above the majority of upcoming footballers his age.
He has great technique, skill and unprecedented strength for someone of his young age and size.
In the course of writing about Brazilian soccer stories, we noticed areas that lack content.
The truth is, not many fans have read an in-depth version of Endrick Felipe’s Biography, which is very exciting. So we have prepared it, and without further ado, let’s get started.
Endrick Felipe Childhood Story:
Starting off, his full name is Endrick Felipe Moreira de Sousa. The Brazilian forward was born on the 21st day of July 2006 to his Mother, CÃntia Moreira and Father, Douglas Sousa, in Taguatinga, Brazil.
From what we’ve gathered, Endrick Felipe is one among two children (himself and a brother, Noah) born to the union between his Parents. Now, let’s introduce you to CÃntia Moreira and Douglas Sousa.
Endrick’s journey to arrive in the world began with the love and commitment of his Dad and Mum, whose wedding is captured in this photo gallery.
Let’s introduce you to Endrick Felipe’s Parents. His Mum’s name is CÃntia Moreira and Dad’s is Douglas Sousa.
Growing-Up:
Endrick Felipe spent his childhood at Taguatinga, situated in the Federal District of Brasilia. The Striker was raised in a family with more boys as children – Endrick himself and Noah.
Let’s unveil to you this gallery, which displays the legacy of love and support tendered by Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Moreira.
Endrick Felipe’s grandmother is seen here carrying him, who is the torch passed down by her son-in-law. On the other hand, Douglas (her son-in-law) is seen here carrying Endrick’s brother, Noah.
A family legacy of love and support: Endrick Felipe’s Dad, Douglas Sousa and his Grandmum, captured in this touching photo gallery as they nurture and carry their grandson and child- Endrick and Noah.
An unbreakable bond exists between the children born to Douglas and CÃntia. Despite the huge age gap, Endrick has always been there to guide and support his younger sibling, Noah.
He takes Noah out for dinner and ensures his little brother joins him to celebrate his wins on the football pitch.
A bond unbreakable exists between Endrick and his younger brother, Noah. The heartwarming photo reveals a dinner outing and the celebration of one of Endrick’s football victories.
Endrick Felipe Early Life:
Growing up in BrasÃlia, Endrick, at the early age of four, started playing football. Endrick Felipe’s father, Douglas Sousa, played a pivotal role in introducing his first son to football.
Those days, the proud Dad (a footballer) would take his son out to the field, encouraging him to learn from him while he played.
As a footballer himself, Douglas Sousa loved having his son by his side. And back then, Enrick wasn’t just a spectator but one of the lucky mascots of his Dad’s team.
A typical example of a father-son bond on the field. This nostalgic photo captures Endrick Felipe’s childhood memories with his proud footballer dad, Douglas Sousa. Both are seen sharing a moment on the pitch, with Endrick being the only lucky mascot of his dad’s team.
As a child, Endrick’s passion for football increased when he practised individually with his Dad. Douglas took it as his own personal mission to teach his son everything he knew in the game.
As Endrick makes stunning moves with the ball, his Dad would use his camera to capture his son’s performance and upload it to YouTube.
With Douglas behind the camera, his son’s stunning moves and goals are documented and shared on YouTube. This is no doubt a testament to their bond and love for the beautiful game.
Thanks to the efforts of his Douglas, it wasn’t long before Endrick’s talent was noticed by a football scout from Palmeiras.
That led to Endrick’s first big break in the sport. From that moment, he continued to soar and, years later, became a rising star in the football world.
Endrick Felipe Family Background:
Now, let’s tell you about the household of the Palmeiras Striker. Endrick Felipe comes from humble beginnings, with his father, Douglas Sousa, having played football at the amateur level.
In this old photo of his Penharol team, Endrick’s Dad (Douglas de Sousa) is pictured in the third position of the front row (from the left).
An old photo of Douglas de Sousa Penharol team. From the back row, we have; Junior, Gilberto, Waldir, Clecio, Toninho, Cizinho, and Nivaldo. From the front row, we have Amendoim, Demir, Douglas (Endrick’s Dad). Lau, Nenem and Edson.
Endrick Felipe’s father didn’t make much money in his career. He never achieved the same level of success as Mazinho, who is the father of Thiago Alcantara.
Endrick Felipe’s family faced hardships at one point, and a lack of financial resources resulted in difficult times.
There once existed a moment Douglas Sousa would never forget. On that day, Endrick Felipe’s father remembers the heartache of having to tell his young son that there was no food available to eat. That happened when little Ednrick, who was hungry, asked for food to eat.
At that time, the family lived in their hometown of Brasilia. Endrick came to his Dad, asking for food, and Douglas Sousa did not have any to give. On that day, Endrick Felipe’s father cried.
And he heard his son consoling him and making a promise to his Dad that one day, he would become a successful footballer and solve their family’s financial issues.
Indeed, it was not so smooth for the Sousa family at that time. For years, Endrick Felipe’s Dad was unemployed.
To keep his family surviving, the poor man sold breakfast at the Barra Funda bus station in the District of São Paulo.
Endrick Felipe’s Dad’s new occupation (a janitor for Palmeiras):
As his son played for Palmeiras, Douglas Sousa wanted to remain close.
Thankfully, he was lucky to have a cleaning job with the club. Pablo Gavi‘s father (the FC Barcelona and Spanish footballer) also passed through a similar fate.
Even as a janitor for the Brazil club, Palmeiras, Endrick Felipe’s dad never had enough to feed himself – especially after taking care of family expenses. Sometimes, he would go on to have meals with first-team players.
To the surprise of many, including the club’s goalkeeper, Jailson Marcelino, Endrick’s Dad was noticed to be drinking only soup.
That intrigued goalkeeper asked Douglas Sousa why he only drank soup and did not eat the rest of his food.
After opening up about the reason for that, Jailson found out that Endrick’s Dad had only seven teeth in his mouth. Felling pitiful for him, the generous goalkeeper decided to pay for the dental treatment of Douglas Sousa.
As I write this Bio, the struggles of Douglas Sousa’s family are now over. Thanks to Endrick’s success, his father (who is now rich) has stopped working as a janitor with Palmeiras.
Neither does Douglas Sousa sell breakfast anymore at the Barra Funda bus station.
A journey from struggle to success: Endrick Felipe’s rise to fame and fortune is captured in this poignant photo as his father, Douglas Sousa, proudly looks on. With Endrick’s success, the family’s struggles ended. Douglas de Sousa is no longer working as a cleaner with Palmeiras or selling breakfast at the Barra Funda bus station.
Endrick Felipe Family Origin:
First, his parents – Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Moreira, have Brazilian nationality. Regarding Endrick Felipe’s Origin, we found that he is a native of Taguatinga.
This place is a satellite city in the capital of Brazi (BrasÃlia) and is about 20 kilometres east of the city centre.
Rooted in Brazilian heritage: Endrick Felipe’s proud Taguatinga origin is captured here.
Endrick Felipe Ethnicity:
Douglas Sousa, his Father, identifies with the Pretos (African-Brazilians). On the other hand, Endrick Felipe’s Mum, CÃntia Moreira, belongs to the Pardo ethnic group.
This ethnicity has a combined mix of European, Native Brazil, and African Ancestry.
Going by the above assertion, Endrick Felipe’s ethnicity is Pardo. He, like Andre Santos and Felipe Anderson, is a Brazilian who has the country’s Native identity and a mix of African ancestry.
Do you know?… the Legendary Ronaldo LuÃs Nazário de Lima identifies with this ethnic group.
Endrick Felipe Education:
The aspiring footballer attended his early childhood education (Educação Infantil) in his native Taguatinga, Federal District, Brasilia.
In Brazil, where Endrick comes from, education is compulsory for kids between the ages of six and fourteen. So we are quite sure that he continued his studies while playing academy football.
Endrick Felipe Biography – Football Story:
The decision for Douglas Sousa to publish his son’s football skills on YouTube paid off. After doing that, he made some physical effort to search for interested football clubs for his son.
Douglas Sousa visited some football academies, which were mainly concentrated around the Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo areas.
Thankfully, there was a lot of interest in Endrick’s YouTube video, especially from football scouts from top clubs. At first, São Paulo FC accepted Douglas Sousa’s son.
Upon acceptance, Sao Paulo FC advised Endrick Felipe’s family to move to the region where their football academy is located.
Owing to the idea of starting life from scratch in another city, Douglas Sousa expected the club to settle the bulk of the family expenses.
Unfortunately, São Paulo FC didn’t meet up the expectation of Endrick Felipe’s Dad. The club could only offer him financial aid of 150 Brazilian Real per month.
When this money is converted, it equals between $28.5 to $30 in a month. To Endrick’s Parents, the money was too small.
Feeding his family with $30 a month, including paying bills, was far from being enough for Douglas.
All Endrick Felipe’s Father wanted was for the club to offer him a job or at least pay for his housing in São Paulo. In an interview with the country’s Nicola channel, Douglas said;
The club couldn’t fix either of them, the housing or providing me a job.
That’s when we saw that there was no way to maintain a relationship with São Paulo.
Moving on from Sao Paulo FC:
Faced with the club’s refusal, Endrick’s father prepared more videos of his son and then uploaded them on YouTube.
This time, the video of Endrick attracted the eyes of another top Brazilian club (Palmeiras), who invited his parents for a meeting.
Before Palmeiras finally accepted the footballer, Corinthians was first in the picture. Corinthians reviewed the needs of Endrick Felipe’s Dad and rejected them.
As it was revealed, Corinthians did not want to pay the rent to the family. And the club did not agree to offer Douglas Sousa a job.
At last, Palmeiras became the final destination for Endrick. The Brazilian professional football club, which raised the likes of Gabriel Jesus (the Arsenal Striker), attended to the needs of Endrick Felipe’s Dad. Palmeiras gave Douglas a job – to work for the club’s janitor in the Barra Funda neighbourhood.
Endrick Felipe Bio – Road to Fame Story:
The son of Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Moreira made a vow to uplift his family. Endrick told his parents that he would not give up on his journey to become a professional footballer and also to help his family.
The boy was pushed to make this statement after seeing how his Dad (Douglas) struggled to feed him.
In addition to the job provided by the football institution, Endrick Felipe’s Dad decided to find supplementary income.
Within his first months of living in the capital of São Paulo, Douglas Sousa found that he could start a small business in a bus station.
So the hardworking Dad began to sell quick breakfasts to cover the expenses of his family. Joining the little income the business provided, including his salary (as a Janitor in Palmeiras), Endrick’s Dad was enough to pay bills and keep his family surviving.
Douglas inspired his son to youth career greatness:
Endrick Felipe’s Dad was a dedicated man who was foresighted about the future of his son’s career. He (initially unemployed) could have applied and gotten a job elsewhere. The truth is, he didn’t fancy the idea of staying far from his son.
Douglas Sousa wasn’t shy to accept to work as a janitor at his son’s football academy (Palmeiras).
Working as a janitor for Palmeiras gave him access to his son. As noticed here, Father’s presence helped Endrick adapt in his early career days.
Behold a father’s unwavering dedication to his football son. Douglas is praised for having great foresight and dedication to his son’s future.
From the age of 10, young Endrick was considered a prodigy from his first season with Palmeiras. The boy stood out against all football opponents, some of whom were five years older than him.
In no time, the football qualities of Endrick (which included leadership potential) earned him a captaincy spot. It didn’t end there. The Taguatinga native began helping Palmeiras to win trophies.
People referred to him as a natural-born leader. Taguatinga native’s early rise with Palmeiras is captured in this impressive photo.
Endrick Felipe Biography – Rise to Fame Story:
The fast-rising Forward continued to enjoy greater success as he progressed with Palmeiras.
Ask Endrick, and he will tell you that one of the standout moments in the academy came when he scored a bicycle kick against Santos FC.
Again, Endrick will never forget lifting the Sao Paulo State Championship trophy alongside his parents. He helped his team win this trophy after scoring the goal in front of a packed stadium with 22,000 home fans watching. Do you know?… Gabriel Martinelli also won this trophy in the past.
A moment to remember: Endrick Felipe’s triumphant victory and lifting the Sao Paulo State Championship trophy in front of his proud parents.
Success continued to be meteoric for Endrick. Each time a challenge is placed in front of him, he responds with victory.
Football pundits said it was possible for Endrick to evolve into a spectacular technical level. A level that would see him become Brazil’s greatest revelation since Neymar. At the start of 2021 (at the age of 14), young Endrick was promoted to the club’s under-17 team.
This is a practice that Palmeiras does with their best youngest 14-year-olds in other to accelerate their maturity (technically). By the 2nd of August of that year (2021), he was promoted from under-17 to Palmeiras U20.
When Endrick got to 15, it was confirmed that he was Brazil’s brightest football jewel. Everyone dazzles with his feet (with the ball) and marvels at his attitude outside the pitch. The forward, again, stood out for Palmeiras, and his goals dazzled FIFA.
Attracting Europe:
One day, as Palmeiras and Oeste Futebol Clube, finished their warm-ups before they battled each other, football scouts from Europe took their seats at the stadium.
They (scouts from Barca, Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool, Southampton, Benfica and Ajax) were mostly there to watch Endrick.
The scouts from the above-named clubs were ready to watch the quarter-finals of the Copa Sao Paulo, Brazil’s premier youth competition. Surprisingly, a 15-year-old Endrick took the match by storm by scoring goals.
He made even a bigger impact than Neymar had done at that same age and competition. All of a sudden, Endrick (with loads of trophies) was being compared to Brazil’s World Cup legend, Ronaldo LuÃs Nazário de Lima.
We are proud to say a Star is born in Brazil. Endrick Felipe’s meteoric rise with Palmeiras youth is captured in this stunning photo of his trophies.
At the tender age of 16, Endrick Felipe was already a holder of eight trophies. With Palmeiras Youth, he won the Campeonato Paulista (Sub-15 and 20), Copa do Brasil Sub-17, Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 and Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.
While playing with the Brazil U16 team, he won the 2022 Montaigu Tournament. And with Palmeiras senior team, he won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and the Supercopa do Brasil (2023).
Towards the closure of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Real Madrid made a surprise announcement about the teenager.
The Spanish giant revealed that they had reached an agreement with Endrick Felipe and his family to sign him as soon as he completes 18 (in July of 2024). The rest, as we say, of the Brazilian striker who fascinates FIFA is now history.
Who is Endrick Felipe’s Girlfriend?
At the time of writing this bio, the 16-year-old Brazilian Athlete is successfully balancing a relationship alongside his budding football career. A testament to his maturity, Endrick manages to maintain both aspects of his life with ease.
Now, allow us to introduce Lara Hernandes, the young woman who holds the title of Endrick Felipe’s girlfriend.
We call this a Young Love and Ambition: Endrick Felipe and his girlfriend, Lara Hernandes, prove that dedication and balance can lead to success both on the pitch and in their relationship.
In contrast to the majority of parents with fast-rising footballers under the age of 17, who might be hesitant to let their young celebrities engage in romantic relationships, Endrick Felipe’s parents stand apart.
Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Moreira wholeheartedly support their son’s relationship. Lara Hernandes, Endrick’s girlfriend, often spends time with his family.
Here, they showcase their acceptance of a woman who is likely to become Endrick Felipe’s wife in the near future.
Endrick Felipe’s supportive parents are captured in this heartwarming photo as we see them embracing their son’s girlfriend, Lara Hernandes, and accepting her as part of the family.
Personal Life:
Who is Endrick Felipe?
Endrick, the Brazilian footballer, is passionate about achieving an equilibrium between his outstanding performance on the pitch and dedicating quality time to his family.
This likely contributes to his ability to maintain a relationship at just 16 years old.
Family moments are especially cherished, with Endrick loving the idea of bonding with his younger brother, Noah.
In addition to sharing his football expertise, Endrick also teaches Noah another skill close to his heart – boxing. Together, they create unforgettable memories and strengthen their sibling bond.
Endrick Felipe Lifestyle:
As of the time this bio was written, the 16-year-old footballer has not yet signed a professional contract.
Consequently, Endrick has not begun earning significant income like his fellow Real Madrid players, Alvaro Rodriquez and Camavinga.
This fact sheds light on why Endrick, who comes from a lower-income family, does not yet possess one of the basic amenities often associated with footballers – a decent car.
Instead, Endrick Felipe’s life outside of football revolves around cherishing family moments and embracing a simpler lifestyle.
On this memorable day, Douglas, CÃntia, Endrick, and Noah spent a delightful time together at Disneyland.
Endrick Felipe Family Life:
Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Moreira are widely recognized for their great personalities and hardworking nature.
In this segment of Endrick’s biography, we’ll delve deeper into his parents’ lives and discover the inspiring story behind their great personalities. Let’s start by getting to know Douglas Sousa better.
Endrick Felipe’s Father:
Douglas Sousa has come a long way from the days when he struggled to provide food for his family, especially his precious son. Yes, we talk about those years Endrick’s Dad overcame the challenging years of unemployment before finding a job as a janitor for Palmeiras.
Regardless of his son’s rising fame, Douglas continues to exhibit his characteristic humility and modesty, as evident in this video.
Unlike many fathers of celebrity footballers, who may appear aloof or disconnected, Douglas isn’t that type of man. Endrick’s Dad possesses a warm and approachable demeanour.
This likeable part of him allows him to connect easily with people from all walks of life. Douglas Sousa’s down-to-earth attitude, combined with his genuine care for people, has earned him the respect and admiration of those around him. Here is a video that proves that.
Endrick Felipe’s Mother:
CÃntia Moreira is mostly admired by her friends as that woman who stood beside her husband during his most trying days.
According to her Instagram Bio, the mother of Endrick describes herself as wonderful, powerful, fair and holy.
The above way CÃntia Moreira describes herself shows she is a “virtuous woman”. A woman who embodies traditional values of morality, integrity, and honour in her daily life. CÃntia Moreira is also a woman who loves family outings.
One of her best places is the Iberostar Praia Do Forte Resort, where she enjoys what God has given to her.
Family time is always precious to CÃntia Moreira, who loves to visit the breathtaking Iberostar Praia Do Forte Resort and appreciate the wonders of nature.
Endrick Felipe’s Brother:
Noah Felipe, the younger sibling of the renowned football celebrity (on whom this Bio is centred), is the youngest in the family.
Often regarded as his mother’s cherished companion, Noah, as the last-born, enjoys a special bond with her.
Endrick Felipe’s actions in his school bring honour to his family, and that is a testament to his admirable upbringing.
Additionally, the guidance of his famous older brother, Endrick, plays a significant role in his growth.
Enjoy this video showcasing Noah’s dance performances at school, an accomplishment that fills everyone with pride.
Endrick Felipe’s Relative – Aunt:
LavÃnia Sudré is her name, and she is a younger sibling to CÃntia Moreira, the mother of the footballer. Endrick Felipe’s Aunt, who is 26 years old (as of 2023), is a proud supporter of his career.
She, who is now married with a son, lives in São Paulo, Brazil. With a striking resemblance to her sister, LavÃnia is always present for Endrick’s triumphs. Follow her on Instagram at @laviiniae.
Meet LavÃnia Sudré, the proud aunt of footballer Endrick Felipe! Sister to CÃntia Moreira.
Endrick Felipe Grandmother:
At the time of writing this Bio, the mothers of the Athlete’s parents are both in their 70 and 80s.
Endrick Felipe’s maternal grandmother is an active septuagenarian (between 70 to 79 years). On the other hand, his paternal grandmum is an octogenarian (83 years as of 2023).
As a young infant, Endrick Felipe was lovingly cared for by his maternal grandmother whenever his parents were occupied with work.
During this period, LavÃnia Sudré, Endrick’s aunt, was merely a young teenager. This precious photo captures the budding footballer cradled in his grandmother’s arms, accompanied by his doting Aunt LavÃnia.
A glimpse into his tender years. A young Endrick Felipe is seen here nestled in his grandmother’s loving embrace, with his teenage Aunt LavÃnia happily standing by.
Teresa Sousa is Endrick’s grandmum (from his father’s side). On the 6th of August 2020, Endrick Felipe’s paternal grandmother celebrated her 80th birthday.
CÃntia Moreira’s mother-in-law remains very close to her son’s family. Little Endrick was still in his early career years old when his beloved grandmum clocked 80.
A fond memory of a young Endrick with his adored parents and grandmum (Teresa Sousa).
Endrick Felipe Grandfather:
Jose Louvado is the Athlete’s maternal granddad. Like Teresa Sousa (Endrick’s paternal grandmum), he became an octogenarian in the year 2020.
On her Dad’s 80th birthday, CÃntia Moreira (Endrick’s Mum) thanked her Dad for the affection he has always shown to the entire family. Jose Louvado is pictured here alongside his wife on the day he celebrated his 80th birthday.
As CÃntia Moreira (Endrick’s mum) expresses gratitude for her father’s unwavering love and support. And on that day (right), the family came together to celebrate Jose Louvado’s 80th birthday.
Endrick Felipe’s Uncle:
Rafael, a proud brother-in-law to CÃntia Ramos, holds the title of Endrick Felipe’s uncle. As the husband of Endrick’s aunt, LavÃnia Sudré, Rafael has consistently shown immense pride in the young nephew’s achievements.
He (a proud father) and his wife (Lavinia) are happy to stand by his family, cheering on Endrick’s flourishing career.
Meet Rafael, Endrick Felipe’s proud uncle and husband of Aunt LavÃnia Sudré.
Untold Facts:
In the final section of Endrick Felipe’s Biography, we’ll tell you more truths you might not know about him. Without further ado, let’s get started with his FIFA statistics.
Endrick Felipe FIFA:
According to EA, the likes of Vitinha, Gavi, Edwardo Camavinga, and Ryan Gravenberch have 89 gaming potential. This is the same with Endrick’s SOFIFA potential, as he (at age 16) is also endowed with 89 potential ratings.
As noticed here, his best football assets are his acceleration, Sprint Speed, Agility, Strength, Finishing and Volleys.
Here’s a snapshot of the young prodigies’ 89 gaming potential, according to SOFIFA.
Endrick Felipe Salary (Palmeiras):
The professional contract he signed on the 6th of October, 2022, sees the Brazilian earning within the region of R$1,481,368 annually.
This equals €260,400, which is the earnings of Vitor Roque, another Brazilian wonderkid.
How rich is the Brazilian wonderkid?
In Taguatinga, Federal District, Brazil – where Endrick Felipe’s Parents had him, the average worker earns a gross salary of R$38,000 annually.
Such a person would need 38 years and 11 months to make Endrick’s monthly pay with Palmeiras.
Endrick Felipe Religion:
The families of Douglas Sousa and CÃntia Ramos Moreira are devoted Christians. Endrick Felipe’s Parents, upon their coming together, agreed to continue the tradition of building a devoted Christian home.
They taught their celebrity son the importance of saying his prayers before, during and after his football games.
“Endrick in a moment of devotion: Amidst the excitement of a football match, Endrick takes a moment to pray, reflecting the strong Christian values instilled in him by his parents.
EndNote:
Endrick Felipe’s Life story has a resemblance to many of the great Brazilian stars who come from very humble origins.
He was raised by his parents – Douglas and CÃntia – in a country where social inequality is very merciless with the black population.
Since his early childhood, little Endrick had encountered lots of challenges both on and off the pitch.
Douglas Sousa’s most painful memory of his family struggle was the day his son came home from Brasilia to ask him for food. The poor Dad cried after telling his son he did not have any.
As Endrick’s Dad cried, he heard his son make a vow – promising him that he would fight hard to become a professional footballer and improve things for his household.
Putting action into his mission, Endrick would wake up earlier than his Dad. He would wait by the side of a bicycle to watch Douglas (his Dad) play football on the football fields of Valparaiso (Cué Azul).
Endrick received guidance from his Dad in terms of learning the beautiful game. He began playing the ball barefoot, running after the round leather, and scoring goals.
The journey to playing with Palmeira was not the simplest. When he was young, Endrick’s Dad was fond of publishing his son’s goals on YouTube, with the view of attracting big clubs for his son. Endrick’s family first had meetings with Sao Paulo.
Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached as the club was not willing to assist his Dad with money for housing (in the city) or a job.
Tough career journey:
Because Douglas Sousa could not afford to pay the rent for his family in the region, he decided to pull his son from enrolling at the academy.
Sao Paulo’s decision to stick with a monthly allowance of only £25 to assist the de Sousa family wasn’t enough.
Douglas’ idea to market his son’s goals using YouTube further attracted the eyes of Palmeiras, who invited Endrick to join them. In addition to that, the São Paulo club met the demands of Endrick’s family, including finding his father a job.
Life was not so smooth for the Sousa family when they relocated to their new home in São Paulo. For the first six months, Endrick’s father (Douglas Sousa) remained unemployed. In order to make money to help his struggling family, the former footballer sold breakfast at the Barra Funda bus station.
After a while, Endrick Felipe was offered the job of a cleaner for the club his son played his youth football (Palmeiras). Still, a man who was struggling financially, Douglas Sousa would sometimes have meals with first-team players.
Observing him eating only soup, Palmeiras Goalkeeper Jailson Marcelino dos Santos found a problem with seven of Douglas’ teeth and decided to support him financially.
Endrick’s good performances in the Palmeiras youth team made him special in the eyes of the giants of European football.
Among all the clubs who fought for his signature, it was Real Madrid who won the race to have the talent.
Before moving to join the Spanish giants, it is the desire of Endrick’s parents to see their son start his professional career at Palmeiras. This is the club that gave the family hope and opened doors for their son when he was a child.
