Endrick's season has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. After a slow start at Real Madrid, a smart January loan move to Olympique Lyon completely turned his career around. Now, he's the darling of Ligue 1, racking up seven goals and seven assists in just 18 matches for his new club.

His stellar performances at Lyon haven't gone unnoticed. Endrick is now a strong contender for Carlo Ancelotti's World Cup squad this summer. There's also growing chatter about him securing a spot in Real Madrid's first team next season—a testament to how far he's come.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Endrick opened up about the tough moments that shaped him. He recalled a night against Croatia in late March, when Ancelotti suggested he was more of a player for the future than the present. Those words hit hard.

"It was a night of doubts and a sense of urgency—I knew it could be my last chance. I prayed a lot," Endrick shared. "I knew that day could be a turning point for me. I played well, one of my best performances. I managed to shake off those negative thoughts, that sense of urgency, that pressure to play well, that it might be my last chance."

Coming off the bench with just 15 minutes left, Endrick didn't just play—he delivered. He earned a penalty and assisted Brazil's third goal in a 3-1 victory that completely shifted the conversation around his World Cup prospects. "That helped me take the weight off my shoulders," he added. "I knew I had to play well to make it to the World Cup, but I managed to shake off that thought and played a great game."

With only three Lyon matches left and Brazil's World Cup opener against Morocco on June 13 approaching fast, Endrick knows exactly what's at stake. "My first desire is to play the World Cup. I need to keep proving myself," he said. "Football isn't a nice place—it's full of pressure and doubts. But that's what makes it beautiful."