Brazil legend tears into Real Madrid star after costly World Cup miss: ‘He was terrible’

Brazil legend tears into Real Madrid star after costly World Cup miss: ‘He was terrible’ The debate surrounding Endrick’s performance for Brazil intensified after legendary striker Romario launched a fierce assessment of the Real Madrid forward following Brazil’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 . Brazil’s defeat against Norway in the Round of 16 ended their hopes of lifting the trophy, but much of the post-match discussion centred on Endrick and a missed opportunity that could have changed the course of the encounter. The Real Madrid forward has long been viewed as one of the brightest talents in Brazilian football, yet his display raised concerns over whether he is ready to shoulder responsibility in the big matches. Romario criticises Endrick after costly miss After the match, Romario did not hold back when discussing the young attacker’s performance against Norway. Despite acknowledging Endrick’s enormous potential, the Brazilian icon insisted that age cannot be used as an excuse when playing at the highest level. “I like Endrick. He is going to be a player who will bring us a lot of joy… But against Norway, he was terrible.”  The former World Cup sinner then dismissed suggestions that Endrick’s age should soften criticism. “Then people say, ‘ah, but Endrick is young’… F*ck that, f*ck if he is young! He has to score that goal. Young, middle-aged, old, f*ck it.” With a superb delivery arriving from Vinicius Jr., the opportunity appeared tailor-made for the teenager to make his mark on the tournament. Instead, Endrick struggled to control the ball, took a heavy touch and failed to convert from a promising position. Endrick World Cup struggles expose difficult learning curve Expectations surrounding Endrick’s World Cup performances had been enormous heading into the tournament. Many fans had urged Carlo Ancelotti to hand the teenager a prominent role for Brazil, believing his talent could provide the spark needed in decisive matches. However, against Norway, the Real Madrid youngster endured a difficult evening. His touch lacked precision, his confidence appeared affected, and he rarely managed to influence proceedings in attacking areas. The missed opportunity served up by Vinicius only amplified scrutiny surrounding his display. For long periods, Endrick found it difficult to impose himself, failing to provide creativity, movement or the sharpness expected from a striker leading the line for the Brazil national team. While criticism may feel harsh, knockout football often leaves little room for errors, and Endrick has learned that the hard way.