Football isn’t nice, want my son as doctor, lawyer — Endrick
Abdullateef Fowewe
In a raw admission that has stunned the football world, 19-year-old Brazilian prodigy Endrick has claimed that the sport “not a nice place” and expressed hope that his future son pursues a stable career like a doctor or a lawyer instead.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Real Madrid signing – currently on loan at Lyon – laid bare the brutal realities behind the glamour of elite football.
“Football is not a nice place. I hope my son becomes a doctor, a lawyer, or anything else,” Endrick said, his words underscoring the mental and emotional toll of his European adventure.
Despite arriving as one of the game’s brightest young stars, Endrick has grappled with adaptation struggles, limited playing time, and relentless scrutiny since leaving Palmeiras for Real Madrid last summer.
The pressure of prodigy status has clashed harshly with reality, exposing the gap between public adoration and private battles.
His comments strike a poignant chord amid a global frenzy where millions of children – and their parents – chase professional dreams on dusty pitches from Rio’s favelas to Lagos streets.
For every aspiring footballer praying to “make it,” or families urging their sons toward glory, Endrick’s voice serves as a sobering reminder of the sport’s unforgiving underbelly.
