Brazilian teenager Endrick becomes K‑pop idol among fans

At 19, Brazilian striker Endrick made his World Cup debut and quickly captured the attention of K‑pop enthusiasts online. Fans likened the young forward to a "maknae" – the youngest member of a K‑pop group – and began posting edited videos set to songs by groups such as TWICE. These fan‑made edits portray Endrick in stylised music‑video formats, giving him a nickname and an unofficial stage name within the K‑pop community.

The phenomenon illustrates how social‑media culture blends sport and pop music, turning a football debut into a cross‑cultural meme. Endrick’s youthful image and the novelty of seeing a Brazilian footballer through a K‑pop lens have driven widespread sharing of the edits, highlighting the growing influence of digital fandoms on athletes’ public personas.