Brazilian striker Endrick rejected comparisons with the late Brazilian legend Pele and called for “just letting history be made.”
The Palmeiras star, who will join Real Madrid on July 21 when he turns 18, scored the winning goal in Brazil's 3-2 friendly against Mexico on Saturday before the Copa America.
In doing so, Endrick emulated Pelé's feat of scoring three goals for the national team before his 18th birthday.
“I always had it in my head that you [journalists] If you create your own stuff, you create crazy stuff,” Endrick said.
“When I was younger, when I was 16, I looked at social media a lot, I'm not going to lie to you, and they kept comparing me to Vitor Roque, they kept comparing me to Pelé. They're crazy. Pelé was Pelé.
“You shouldn't compare yourself to anyone, for me that's ugly, and everyone has their own story, their own reality, where they come from and what they have to go through to be able to play.
“And you want to keep comparing. Just let history be made.”
Endrick has been one of the highest-rated young players in Brazil since he debuted with the Palmeiras first team, at age 16, in October 2022.
Earlier this year, he made headlines around the world when he scored his first goal for the senior Brazil team in a 1-0 win against England, becoming the youngest player to score an international goal at Wembley.
Three days later, he became the only under-18 player to score in two consecutive international matches since Pelé, scoring against Spain in a 3-3 draw at the Bernabéu stadium in Madrid.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior said he hopes the weight of expectations Endrick already carries will not be too much for the player heading to Madrid.
“Let's be very careful with this boy,” Dorival said in a press conference after Brazil's winning game against Mexico.
“There are so many things happening in his life in such a short time. He maintains the essence. [The goal] It is an important factor that gives confidence to the player. We have to be calm and patient, without [drawing] any comparison with one name or another. “Endrick has to do it himself.”
Endrick and Brazil will return to action on Wednesday against the United States in a Copa America warm-up match in Orlando, Florida.
Brazil will begin its Copa América on June 24 against Costa Rica.
