Endrick to Real Madrid: Unveiling the five best young footballers in South America

Endrick, one of the most coveted teenage talents in South American football, was pursued by European elite clubs. His ball control, composure under pressure, pace, scoring prowess, dribbling skill, and versatility endeared him to clubs. 

The Brazilian striker was heavily linked with moves to Chelsea as part of their rebuilding process, while PSG eyed him to bolster their attack after Kylian Mbappe's departure.

Barcelona also joined the race to land the Palmeiras youngster ahead of the 2024–25 campaign.

However, Endrick ended the speculation by signing with Real Madrid, inking a €60 million deal that will keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2027. He joins an exclusive list of South American footballers who won the Copa Libertadores before leaving the continent for a greener pasture.  

While the 17-year-old Brazilian is currently the biggest export, other wonderkids across the continent could follow in his footsteps. 

So, in this article, we look at five more teenagers who may be the next big star out of South America. But before that, let's discuss more about the rave of the moment—Endrick. 

 Endrick: The rising star

Born in July 2006, Endrick began playing football at age four but started training at Águas Claras when he was eight. After each training session, his dad would upload some of his goals on YouTube for potential suitors. 

Luckily, Sao Paulo and Palmieras were impressed with the short clips and wanted him in their academy. At the age of 11, the promising kid from Taguatinga chose Palmieras.

Endrick became a household name in the youth league after scoring 165 goals in 169 games. The promising 16-year-old striker earned a spot in the first team and made his professional debut against Coritiba in October 2022, becoming the youngest player to do so.

After scoring against Atletico Paranaense, Endrick became the second-youngest scorer in the history of the Brazilian League.

As if that wasn't enough, he won the Most Promising Player accolade as he helped Palmeiras to their eleventh league title. 

Unsurprisingly, top European clubs began to monitor his progress in hopes of signing him. They sent their scouts to watch and analyse his playing style, as well as see if he would fit into their systems.

Speaking of playing style, Endrick is a speedy left-footed striker who loves scoring from range. The Brazilian cherishes being in one-on-one situations because he possesses the pace, skill, and confidence to beat the opposition.

Apart from scoring, Endrick also creates chances for his teammates thanks to his impressive hold-up play. He beats defenders with his pace and dribbling skills before passing to a teammate in a better position or taking long-range shots.

Meanwhile, the 17-year-old is versatile and can function anywhere along the front line, including the left, right, wing, or centre. His creativity and accuracy in passing have also led to his deployment as a playmaker.

Though he is predominantly a centre-forward, Endrick's versatility made him a useful asset and an important figure in Palmeiras title triumph. 

Little wonder, Real Madrid fans are tipping him to form a deadly partnership with Vinicius Junior and Mbappe and produce match-winning performances. 

 The best South American wonderkids in 2024

Below are the top five talents in South American football in 2024:

 1. Claudio Echeverri (Argentina)

Echeverri is among the best young South American football players following an impressive U17 World Cup with Argentina. 

Though Argentina finished fourth, the 18-year-old winger scored five goals and caught Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Barcelonaʼs attention. 

Dubbed the 'next Messi by local media, the River Plate wunderkind is a skilled dribbler who thrives in one-on-one situations. Like Endrick, Echeverri has a powerful shooting prowess and loves to shoot from long range, hoping to catch goalkeepers off guard. 

He has 22 caps for the River Plate this season and will add to them before joining Pep Guardiola, who completed a £22 million move for his signature last year.

 2. Kendry Paez (Ecuador)

Kendry Paez broke into the limelight following his impressive debut for the Ecuador senior national team against Uruguay, where he assisted the winning goal.

He further boosted his newfound fame by inspiring his country to a 2-1 victory over Bolivia, becoming the youngest-ever South American to score in a World Cup qualifier.

The 17-year-old central midfielder has featured in 19 matches for Independiente del Valle as of this article, playing an important role despite his young age.

Meanwhile, the youngest-ever debutant goal scorer in Ecuador's top flight will join Chelsea when he turns 18, because the Blues reached a £17.2 million agreement with Independiente in 2023.

 3. Luis Guilherme (Brazil)

Luis Guilherme is an 18-year-old Brazilian winger who has been making headlines in the British media for months. 

Having been with the Palmeiras youth team for five years, he signed his first professional contract in 2022 and made his first team debut against Tombense in April 2023. 

The Brazil U20 winger is known for his blistering pace and versatility, which distinguish him from players in his age group. He has featured in the central midfield, right inverted wing, and attacking midfield positions.

Though not a flamboyant player, Guilherme is also a good dribbler, with a staggering 71.6% dribble success rate in the 2023–24 campaign. 

Aside from his offensive attributes, he is also a workaholic youngster who defends when necessary. 

In terms of achievements, Luis Guilherme's trophy cabinets include the Brasileiro Série A title, the championship, and the Brazilian Super Cup.

Though he doesn't get the same media hype and attention as Endrick, he remains one of the youngsters to watch in 2024 after completing his summer move to West Ham.

 4. Lorran Lucas (Brazil)

While Lorran is relatively unknown globally, he's been a sensational talent in South American football. 

The attacking midfielder joined Flamengo's youth system before signing a professional contract on his 16th birthday. He is currently the youngest goalscorer in the club's history, following his goal against Bangu. 

The 17-year-old is a talented playmaker who is comfortable with the ball at his feet. His positional awareness is topnotch, while his acceleration and short-dribbling ability are nothing short of brilliance. 

Lorran has strong short-mid-straight passing accuracy, which makes him a perfect fit for top attack-minded teams. 

Speaking of top teams, United and Chelsea are reportedly in the race for the Brazilian, who is tipped to be the next big star. 

 5. Damián Nicolás (Chile)

The 19-year-old Chilean forward comes last among the five 2024 wonder kids in South American football. 

The young centre-forward has been phenomenal for Chilean League side Colo-Colo. 

He is known for his heading prowess and off-the-ball movement, which make him a perfect target for his club. 

Meanwhile, he has one cap for the Chile national team and could make a big-money move to Europe soon. 

 Conclusion

From Neymar and James Rodriguez to the 2024 wonder kids above, the South American leagues have been a nurturing ground for football prodigies who have achieved outstanding things. 

Endrick's transfer to Real Madrid and Guilherme's move to West Ham are testaments to the potential on the continent.