Brazilian teenager Endrick gets No. 9 shirt for Copa America, aiming at dynasty with national team

SAO PAULO (AP) — The youngest player to score three goals for Brazil’s national team was Pelé. Now another player, also 17 but a few days older than one of greatest of all time, did the same wearing the iconic yellow shirt.

Endrick scored the winner for Brazil in a 1-0 friendly victory over England at Wembley Stadium in March, netted another in a 3-3 draw against Spain at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, and gave his team a last-minute 3-2 win over Mexico on June 8 amid preparations for the Copa America.

How far can the teenage sensation go? Brazil coach Dorival Júnior, who took over in January, has offered a hint: Endrick is a possible starter for the tournament in the United States in the same No. 9 shirt previously donned by two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo.

The Brazilian public and former players are unanimously excited about Endrick, who is expected to develop further after he joins Real Madrid from Palmeiras next season. Many already see the striker as the team's target man for the 2026 World Cup, and possibly keeping that place for the next two decades. This month's Copa America could provide a first glimpse of what Brazil's future could look like.

Endrick scored his three goals for the national team in about 100 minutes on the field and having only six shots on target during those three friendlies. He didn't score against the United States on Wednesday, but still had three chances in less than 30 minutes.

“We need to be calm, patient, avoid making any comparisons between Endrick and other athletes,” Dorival Júnior said after Brazil’s win over Mexico. “We need to be very careful about this boy. So much is happening in his life in such little time. What matters is that he doesn’t lose his essence. This mark (equalling Pelé‘s initial tally) brings attention and just adds to what he has done, the accomplishments he has had in such little time.”

The teenager has spoken like a veteran during his time with Brazil's national team. Earlier in June, Endrick said in an interview with The Associated Press that he still needs to introduce himself to fans. But his popped collar during games, lethal finishes in front of goal and evident confidence remind many of another Brazilian goal scorer, just an inch smaller — 1994 World Cup winner Romário.

“He is a great striker, I am sure we can hope to see a lot from him in the future,” Romário said in an interview with ESPN in March. “I agree it is too soon to make comparisons, especially with me. To reach Romario level he needs to do a lot of running."

Endrick became a beloved player at Palmeiras after 81 matches and 21 goals. The forward won the Sao Paulo championship title with his former club this year and in 2023. He was also part of the squad that won the Brazilian championship in 2022 and 2023. He will face tougher competition at European champion Real Madrid, but before that he wants a shot at securing his place in the national team.

He is already talking the talk to become a reference for the team in years to come.

“Pelé is Pelé. You should not make those comparisons, that's bad. Every one of us has their own story, their life, their reality. Just let history speak for itself," Endrick said after the match against Mexico. “I don't care about records, I only want to enjoy myself. Every time I step on the field it is my Disneyworld, my amusement park.”

Endrick might be unfazed by the pressure, but his teammates know it exists and spur him on to deliver goals and remain discreet off the field.

“We can see he is humble, he works hard and deserves to live this moment,” striker Gabriel Martinelli said. “It is his fate to score. We are very happy about it and we hope he gets even greater things.”

Excitement in Brazil is such that Ronaldo said two years ago he would have taken a 15-year-old Endrick to the World Cup in Qatar. He remains optimistic about the striker's future with the national team — and also at the Spanish club.

“Just look at what he has done with Brazil,” the former player said in early June. “And he will do no different at Madrid.”

Even coaches of other sports have taken notice that Brazil's No. 9 could be special.

“The lens with which Brazilian soccer players are looked at is very similar to how American athletes are treated by their media,” Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said after his team won Game 2 of the NBA Finals. “You see Endrick coming up, he is going to face that (pressure) soon.”

The first game of Endrick's first major tournament is scheduled for June 24, when Brazil takes on Costa Rica in Los Angeles in the Copa America.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Brazil's Endrick, right, celebrates with Rodrygo after scoring his side's second goal during a friendly soccer match between Spain and Brazil at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Messi and Argentina will try to win their third straight major title when they defend their Copa America championship while Brazil hopes 17-year-old Endrick will combine with Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo for success. (AP Photo/Jose Breton, File)

Brazilian teenager Endrick gets No. 9 shirt for Copa America, aiming at dynasty with national team

Brazilian teenager Endrick gets No. 9 shirt for Copa America, aiming at dynasty with national team

FILE - Brazil's Endrick celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a friendly soccer match between England and Brazil at Wembley Stadium in London, Saturday, March 23, 2024. The 17-year-old striker is widely expected to be in the starting lineup at Copa America, his first major event with the senior team. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

FORDYCE, Ark. (AP) — A steady rain was falling outside Fordyce High School, but that didn't deter an army of volunteers who raced to hand out jugs of milk and bags of groceries to a line of cars snaked around the parking lot.

In the days since a shooter killed four people and injured 10 others at the Mad Butcher grocery, this town of 3,200 people has been grieving and grappling with the shock of a mass killing. But the community has also faced the void left by the temporary closure of its only grocery store.

While the Mad Butcher’s workers have been cleaning up from the aftermath of the violence in the south Arkansas store, residents have few nearby alternatives. Though the town has a Walmart and discount retailers with some food options, the closest grocery stores or supermarkets are located in neighboring cities at least half an hour away.

“A lot of people don't have the ability to get there or elderly people don't want to go that far,” said Darrin Brazil, the school's basketball coach, who organized the food pickup with two former classmates. “We just want to do that for the community for help people that really need that.”

The school, a city facility and churches are among sites set up for residents to pick up groceries while the store is closed and being cleaned up.

The struggle has highlighted concerns about “food deserts,” areas without access to affordable, healthy food nearby. Similar efforts sprung up in Buffalo in 2022 after a white supremacist killed 10 people at a supermarket.

"It’s a basic need that people have. It’s kind of bringing us together, to be honest," said Roderick Rogers, a city council member and pastor. “We’re trying to respond with love to overcome this tragedy.”

The front of the Mad Butcher was still riddled with bullets on Wednesday as workers were inside cleaning up and making repairs. A makeshift memorial for the victims — including crosses, flowers and candles — was set up next to the parking lot.

A banner reading “#WeAreFordyceStrong” hung under the store's name and green awning.

“Temporarily closed” signs were taped to the store's front doors. “Please pray for our community," they said.

Police have not given a motive for the shooting. Travis Eugene Posey, 44, pleaded not guilty this week to four counts of capital murder and ten counts of attempted capital murder and is being held in a neighboring county's jail without bond. Posey was injured after a shootout with police officers who responded to the attack, authorities said.

Police have said Posey was armed with a handgun and a shotgun, and multiple gunshot victims were found in the store and its parking lot. Authorities have said Posey did not appear to have a personal connection to any of the victims.

Many of the volunteers stocking up bags and handing them out at the school on Wednesday knew the victims or someone who was in the store as the shooting unfolded.

“The whole city of Fordyce is hurting over this,” said Elvis Smith, the maintenance director for the school district. His wife was in the store during the attack and escaped through a back door.

Houchens Industries, the Kentucky-based company that owns Mad Butcher, said it expected to reopen the store in the coming week, Little Rock television station KTHV reported.

Residents driving through the school's parking lot said they hoped it would be sooner rather than later.

“You definitely don't know what to do,” said Jayda Carlson, who dropped by the school to pick up groceries with her grandmother-in-law on Wednesday. "Am I going to have to spend more money on gas to get groceries and stuff that we need?”

FILE - Police respond to the scene of a shooting, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Fordyce, Ark. (KATV via AP, File)

Damage can be seen to a front window law enforcement officers work the scene of a shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Friday, June 21, 2024. (Colin Murphey/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP)

A sign in memory of the four victims killed in a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store sits near the store's parking lot in Fordyce, Ark., on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Volunteers hand out bags of groceries and jugs of milk to cars lined up at Fordyce High School in Fordyce, Arkansas on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The school is one of several food distribution sites that have been set up to help residents after a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Signs are taped to the front doors of the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark. on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The store has been closed in the days following a mass shooting that killed four people, and volunteers in the community have been setting up food distribution sites to help residents. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Volunteers hand out bags of groceries and jugs of milk to cars lined up at Fordyce High School in Fordyce, Ark., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The school is one of several food distribution sites that have been set up to help residents after a mass shooting at the Mad Butcher grocery store. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Trucks sit parked in front of the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce, Ark., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The store has remained closed in the days following a mass shooting that killed four people, prompting volunteers to scramble to set up food distribution sites for residents. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)