Brazilian striker Endrick wrote his name in the history of European football by leading Lyon to a 5-2 victory over Metz, in a match valid for the 19th round of the Campeonato Francês 2025/2026. The young player, currently on loan from Real Madrid to the French club, scored three goals in the clash played at the Stade Saint-Symphorien, in Metz. With this performance, he achieved the first hat-trick of his professional career on European soil, consolidating his meteoric adaptation to the new team and to Ligue 1 football. The gala performance took place in front of an audience that witnessed the breaking of a record that belonged to one of the greatest idols in world sport.
Endrick’s feat takes on historic contours by surpassing a statistic established by Ronaldo Fenômeno in the 1990s. and França). Ronaldo held this mark since the 1997/1998 season, when he scored three times defending Inter from Milão at 21 years of age. Além of statistical relevance, the performance reinforces the athlete’s position as one of the most concrete promises in global football today.
- Endrick: 19 years and 6 months (Lyon – 2026)
- Ronaldo Fenômeno: 21 years old (Inter de Milão – 1998)
- Vinícius Júnior: 21 years and 10 months (Real Madrid – 2022)
- Rodrygo Goes: 18 years and 301 days (only on Champions League)
La pass en profondeur de Tyler Morton dans le bon tempo pour@Endrick, quickly and at the clinic ✨
—Olympique Lyonnais (@OL)January 26, 2026
⚡ This is the electric action#FCMOLcouple present@MGMotorFrance⚡pic.twitter.com/m6ST3A6LxV
Technical performance and match details in Metz
The Brazilian star began to shine early in Sunday’s clash, opening the scoring just 11 minutes into the opening half with a precise finish. Lyon’s dominance was evident from the first movements, with the offensive system taking advantage of the spaces left by the Metz defense. Endrick demonstrated intelligent positioning and speed to overcome the markers, being the visiting team’s main technical reference throughout the time he was on the pitch. The interaction with his midfield teammates made it easier to create clear scoring opportunities.
Still in the first half, the striker increased his personal tally by scoring Lyon’s fourth goal in stoppage time, ensuring a comfortable lead before the break. The definitive consecration came in the 42nd minute of the second half, when the young man took responsibility for taking a maximum penalty. Coolly, he converted the shot and closed the score at 5-2, guaranteeing the game ball and official recognition from the French league. Após the final whistle, the player expressed his gratitude to the group and the coach for the support he received since his arrival at the club.
Positioning in French league history and world records
Although it surpassed the record among Brazilians, Endrick now occupies a prominent place in a select list of precocity within the Ligue 1 in the 21st century. Ele is positioned just behind the likes of Jérémy Menez, who scored a hat-trick at the age of 17, and Kylian Mbappé, who achieved the feat at the age of 18. Ousmane Dembélé also appears ahead of the Brazilian in this specific age metric in the French national championship. Mesmo thus, the entry of Endrick into this group reinforces the immediate impact that his presence generates on the França sports scene.
The European press widely covered the Brazilian’s numbers, who now has four goals in just three official games for Lyon. The loan from Real Madrid has proven to be an efficient strategy to guarantee playing minutes and technical development for the athlete. Observadores technicians highlight that the transition to French football allowed the player to further explore his mid-range finishing ability and associative play. The Spanish club follows each evolution closely, projecting the return of a much more mature player for next season.
Lyon is experiencing a meteoric rise in the league table after a sequence of positive results. With the three points achieved in Metz, the team reached the mark of 36 points, occupying fourth place and firmly entering the fight for a place in the next Liga of UEFA’s Campeões. Esta was the team’s eighth consecutive victory in all competitions, showing a solid recovery after an irregular start to the season. Paris Saint-Germain remains in the isolated lead of the competition with 45 points, but the pressure from the immediate pursuers has increased significantly.
The sequence of victories has been fundamental for the confidence of the squad led by the Lyon technical committee. Além of Endrick, other players have stood out in creating plays, forming an efficient and lethal offensive block on counterattacks. The club’s management expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting that the focus remains on maintaining the pace for the decisive rounds of the return. The goal set for the year is to return to the top of European football, and the performance against Metz was an important step in that direction.
Next steps and the athlete’s evolution on the international stage
The French football calendar has important challenges in store for Lyon in the coming weeks, including direct clashes against opponents at the top of the table. Endrick should continue as an absolute starter, given the tactical importance he acquired in the team’s offensive scheme in a short time. The fans’ expectation is that the Brazilian will maintain regularity and continue breaking personal and collective records. The commercial impact of the striker’s presence is also noted, with an increase in demand for tickets and official club products.
Football market experts point out that the market value of Endrick tends to rise drastically after consistent performances at Europa. The player demonstrates unusual maturity for his age group, dealing well with external pressure and constant comparisons with great names from the past. Sua trajectory at Lyon serves as a luxury stage before the definitive return to Santiago Bernabéu, where competition will be even fiercer. For now, the striker’s full focus remains on helping Lyon win titles and secure goals in the current French season.
The physical preparation and psychological support offered by the French club have been crucial for the athlete to withstand the load of high-intensity games. Endrick has followed a rigorous training and recovery schedule, which directly reflects on his physical power during the 90 minutes of the match. Constant communication with the Brazilian technical committee is also a relevant factor, with a view to future calls for the main team in international commitments. Success at França is seen as the definitive calling card for its consolidation in the elite of world football.
At the end of the game against Metz, teammates celebrated the historic milestone with the Brazilian striker in the locker room. The atmosphere of unity at Lyon is seen as one of the differences for the undefeated streak that the team is currently going through. The coach highlighted in a press conference that the merit lies with the team, but recognized that having a player with the finishing instinct of Endrick makes it easier to execute any game plan. The city of Lyon embraced the young talent, who already feels at home in his new sporting home.
The match statistics show that Lyon had 62% possession of the ball and shot 18 times at the opponent’s goal, demonstrating absolute technical superiority. Metz, despite playing at home, was unable to contain the visitors’ offensive momentum and suffered from the quick transitions orchestrated by the Lyon midfield. The 5-2 victory was considered one of the best games of the round by specialized critics, raising the entertainment level of Ligue 1. The repercussion of Endrick’s hat-trick should continue to generate debates about the player’s evolution ceiling in the coming years.
In terms of historical comparison, Endrick’s hat-trick puts the young man on a trajectory similar to that of great icons who shone early in Europa. The fact of surpassing Ronaldo Fenômeno, which is a global technical reference, places an additional responsibility on the athlete’s shoulders. However, he has demonstrated balance in dealing with expectations, focusing on daily work and results on the field. The future looks promising for the number 9, who continues to rewrite the record books with each round of Campeonato Francês.
Brazilian fans enthusiastically follow Endrick’s every step abroad, seeing in him the hope of protagonism in the next major national team competitions. The ability to decide games in a competitive league like the French one validates the investment made by Real Madrid in signing him. The loan to Lyon, which initially raised doubts among some analysts, is now proving to be the right decision to give the player the necessary leadership experience on the pitch. The scenario for the remainder of the 2025/2026 season is one of constant growth and new marks to be broken.
