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Every once in a while, a genius emerges from Brazil. Pele in the late Fifties, Zico 15 years later. Ronaldo in the mid-Nineties and Ronaldinho following quickly behind him. Now, a new magician is ready for global stardom.

Endrick had played just seven times for Palmeiras last December when Real Madrid agreed a £52.5million deal for him to join them when he turns 18 in July next year.

His star rose when he scored 165 goals in 169 games for Palmeiras’s youth teams, and he snubbed Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain to join his national team-mates Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo in Madrid. on Thursday night, aged 17 years and 118 days, he is expected to make his Brazil debut in a World Cup qualifier in Colombia. Only Pele and two stars of the Sixties, Edu and Coutinho, were younger.

‘It has always been an ultimate dream to wear the Brazil jersey,’ Endrick tells Mail Sport. ‘Things have happened very quickly in my life, and this is another dream come true. I can only thank my family, agents, and Palmeiras, who have always believed in me.’

The Brazil box is about to be ticked and he will achieve his other big target too despite his tender years. ‘My dream, since I was little, has always been to play for Real Madrid,’ he adds. ‘Cristiano Ronaldo is one of my biggest idols. So it is a great pride to know that I will wear the same shirt he wore.’

Endrick is already signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports agency, and will leave his Nike deal to become the face of New Balance before he moves to Madrid.

His entourage already numbers more than a dozen, from chefs to physiotherapists, tactical analysts and marketing professionals, all precision engineering this precious talent.