The bizarre red card Endrick received in French football: the Brazilian left the pitch furious

What was supposed to be another routine night for Olympique Lyonnais in their relentless 2026 campaign quickly turned into a sobering reality check for Endrick. The young Brazilian, currently on loan from Real Madrid, experienced his most difficult performance since arriving in France. While Lyon managed to secure a gritty 1-0 victory over Nantes, the headlines centered on Endrick’s lack of composure and a costly expulsion that left his team under siege.

The match began on the wrong foot for the 19-year-old sensation. Just minutes after the opening whistle, Endrick was involved in a heated physical tangle with Nantes' Jean-Philippe Abline. In a decision that set the tone for the night, the referee chose to book the Brazilian for his reaction rather than penalizing the initial hard challenge from the Nantes attacker.

This early yellow card seemed to rattle Endrick’s concentration. Known for his explosive pace and clinical finishing, he appeared uncharacteristically disconnected for much of the first half. Nantes' tactical plan was clear: starve him of space, force him to play with his back to the goal, and turn the game into a physical grind. Aside from a flashy outside-of-the-boot pass and a close-range effort that forced a miraculous save, Endrick was largely a spectator in his own game.

As the second half progressed, the fatigue of the 2026 season seemed to catch up with the teenager. Lacking the "spark" that saw him record six goal involvements in his first five French matches, Endrick’s body language began to leak frustration.

The boiling point arrived at the hour mark. In a seemingly harmless play near the touchline, Endrick lost possession to Tabibou. In a flash of petulance, the Brazilian kicked out at his opponent from behind. While the referee initially seemed to miss the severity of the incident, a VAR review quickly upgraded the situation. Endrick was shown a straight red card, leaving Lyon to defend their narrow lead with ten men for the final thirty minutes.

Despite the individual setback for their star loanee, Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon proved why they are the story of 2026. The team showed immense character, closing ranks to protect the 1-0 lead provided by a Pavel Sulc goal earlier in the match.

Goalkeeper Dominik Greif became the hero of the closing stages, making several world-class saves to preserve the victory. This result marks Lyon’s ninth consecutive win in 2026—a staggering feat given the club's recent institutional and economic hurdles. Lyon continues to march toward the top of the table, but they will now have to do it without their Brazilian talisman for at least a couple of fixtures.

For Endrick, this red card serves as a "tough love" lesson. While his talent is undeniable, the physical and psychological demands of European football require a "cool head" to match the "hot feet." Real Madrid will undoubtedly be watching these clips closely, hoping their future star uses this suspension to mature before his eventual return to the Bernabéu.