Brazil Teenager Endrick Becomes Real Madrid’s Youngest Champions League Scorer 

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #16 Endrick celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Stuttgart VFB at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 17, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #16 Endrick celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Stuttgart VFB at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 17, 2024. (AFP)
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Brazil Teenager Endrick Becomes Real Madrid’s Youngest Champions League Scorer 

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #16 Endrick celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Stuttgart VFB at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 17, 2024. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #16 Endrick celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 1st round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Stuttgart VFB at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 17, 2024. (AFP)

Endrick became Real Madrid’s youngest Champions League scorer on Tuesday.

The 18-year-old Brazil forward scored with a shot from outside the area deep into stoppage time in Madrid’s 3-1 win over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

At 18 years and 58 days, he surpassed former Madrid great Raúl González, who was 18 years and 113 days old when he scored a hat trick in Madrid’s 6-1 win against Ferencvárosi in 1995, according to UEFA.

Endrick came into the match in the 80th to replace Jude Bellingham.

His goal came off a breakaway that started back in the Madrid defense. The youngster made a long run and had the option to feed either Kylian Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior, but he preferred to take a low shot with his left foot. Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel got his hands to the ball but couldn’t keep it from going in.

“I had passed the ball to Vini the first time, but then I felt that the best option was to take the shot and it went in,” Endrick said.

It was the first Champions League goal for the Brazilian, who went near the crowd behind the goal to celebrate close to the fans.

Rodrygo, Endrick’s Brazil teammate, joked that Endrick “was crazy” to take that shot.

“He did something that no one would have done it,” Rodrygo said. “I’m really happy for him, it’s always special to score in the Champions League.”

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Endrick showed “a lot of confidence” by attempting the shot, but joked that “I would have killed him if he had failed.”

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Endrick “had a lot of guts to take the shot.”

It was Endrick’s second goal since joining Madrid from Brazilian club Palmeiras this season. The first had come in his Madrid debut in the Spanish league.



Messi Presented with Inaugural MARCA America Award

Messi Presented with Inaugural MARCA America Award
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Messi Presented with Inaugural MARCA America Award

Messi Presented with Inaugural MARCA America Award

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi added another award to his collection on Thursday.

Messi became the first recipient of the MARCA America Award, presented by the Spain-based media company, The Associated Press reported. The award recognizes Messi’s championship-laden career — one with a record 46 trophies won for club or country, and at least 56 other awards on the individual level.
“It has been quite the journey,” the Argentine superstar said in Spanish during a moderated question-and-answer session at Chase Stadium, Inter Miami's home field. “We have experienced so many beautiful things but also complicated moments. In 20 years not everything is beautiful. You cannot win all the time."
For Messi, no title outshines the 2022 World Cup with Argentina that helped cement his legacy among the sport’s greatest players. However, the 37-year-old Messi has won plenty and still feels the drive to continue adding titles. Similar to his titles with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi already has helped Inter Miami win hardware since he joined the MLS club in July 2023.
Although limited to 18 MLS matches this season because of an ankle injury and national team commitments, Messi has 17 goals and 15 assists to help lead Miami to the 2024 Supporters Shield. Miami will have home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs which begin next week.
“I was able to achieve the biggest prize, which is the World Cup,” said Messi, who had three goals and two assists in a 6-0 Argentina romp past Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. “It is the trophy all of us want when we start playing and I managed to fulfill my dream. We won many titles in Barcelona, Paris. Now we are here with the objective to fight hard for another title.”
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through next season. And, after his recent goal-scoring performance on Tuesday, Messi could remain energized in his commitments with Argentina through the next World Cup cycle.
“I still have a deep love for this sport and I will continue to aspire to win more titles,” Messi said. “At this level, you have to enjoy things day by day.”
Inter Miami has one regular-season match left, coming at home Saturday against New England. If Inter Miami wins it would set the MLS single-season points mark with 72, one more than New England had in 2021.