Endrick ready, but still third in Brazil’s attack, says Ronaldo

Ronaldo has thrown his support behind Endrick, but the message was more specific than simple praise. He said the 19-year-old is ready to play, while also putting him behind Igor Thiago and Matheus Cunha in Brazil’s attacking order. Endrick has managed 26 minutes and one appearance at this World Cup, and he was an unused substitute in Brazil vs Morocco, which finished 1-1 on 2026-1-1.

Ronaldo told goal.com: "I am sure he will get his opportunity. He will come on at some point, but right now he is the third option in attack. There is Igor Thiago, there is Matheus Cunha, and then it's him... But listen, he is ready, forget it, he's ready."

Brazil’s current attacking order

The call against Morocco was not for a lack of trust in the teenager. Ronaldo said Bruno Guimarães asking to come off shaped the substitution picture, and that [Carlo Ancelotti] stays in plain text because he is not in the link system; the coach had been going for the win.

Endrick did get on against Haiti, replacing Cunha in the 63rd minute, but the night still showed how Brazil are using their forwards. He had a goal disallowed for offside, while Cunha scored twice in that same game. Cunha now has 2 goals from 2 appearances and 93 minutes at the tournament, and his average rating is 7.95. Vinícius Júnior has 2 goals and 1 assist in 2 appearances, so the pecking order is being set by output as much as reputation.

What Endrick has to wait for

Endrick’s own words suggest the wait is being managed, not argued over. He said he spent a year with Ancelotti at Real Madrid, and that the coach knows what he does when he comes on. Ancelotti has also said he will bring Endrick on "at the right moment" and called him "an extraordinary talent."

Ronaldo’s point is hard to dismiss given the minutes and the current form ahead of him. Endrick is still being eased in, Cunha is producing, and Brazil have started the tournament by mixing a 1-1 draw with Morocco and a 1-1 win over Haiti. The next question is whether Ancelotti uses the same hierarchy again in Brazil’s next game.