Inside Endrick's bizarre marriage: RMD wonderkid coupled up with model at 17

Playing for Real Madrid, scoring in the Champions League, and earning a reported £30,000 per week - aged 18, Endrick has destiny at his doorstep.

Brazilian legend Cafu has christened him a 'great jewel' while Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal hailed him a 'phenomenon'. Here, they would have you think, is the second coming of Neymar. The signs point to him being Brazil's future.

When he arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer for an initial £51million, unveiled in front of 43,000 fans, Madrid knew what they were getting. He is already the face of sports brand New Balance, twice a title winner with Palmeiras in his homeland, and the sensation who put England to the sword at Wembley in March.

And by his side through it all, for better and worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, but likely ridiculously richer: Gabriely Miranda, his 23-year-old newlywed wife.

This is the story of a relationship which began with a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman, which only happened in the first place because of a bet, involves a mildly concerned mother, and follows a binding 'contract' of rigid rules including not being allowed a virtual girlfriend on GTA V.

The roots of Endrick and Miranda's relationship are as elusive as his nimble feet on a green stretch of turf. Depending on what you read, you will come away with a  different account.

Initial reports illustrate a picture of Endrick becoming dumbstruck as he saw Gabriely Miranda walk past while he was in the middle of an interview. In this version of reality, no media training had prepared him for Cupid's arrow.

Yet Miranda has a different account of how things began, and considering it is first-hand, it is best to take this one more seriously.

'He was sitting alone in the mall and I thought he was amazing,' she said. 'He had a strong look and was full of confidence. At that moment I thought he would be the man of my life and my future.'

Supposedly, Miranda did not even know that Endrick was a footballer at the time. Lucky she met him before he became a global celebrity. But their relationship only blossomed due to the world of sports betting.

Indeed, the pair only started dating after making a bet on a football match that they were watching over a meal. As Miranda revealed, the two made a wager on a game between Brazilian sides Cuiaba and Botafogo. If Cuiaba won, they would start dating. Botafogo, as it happened, had an off day.

'Cuiaba won. Thanks to them, we are together,' said Miranda. Thus began a sizzling partnership which has gone on to generate global headlines.

On December 8 2023, the heart emoji factory went into overdrive. Endrick had just won two prizes at Brazil's Bola de Prata awards, celebrating their domestic season. He was crowned the 'revelation of the year' and also scored the 'most beautiful goal'.

From the awards ceremony, Miranda posted photos of them holding up the trophies and sat together. 'Congratulations love, may God bless all your ways,' she wrote. That single L-word was confirmation enough for the masses.

The prospect of a 17-year-old in a relationship with an adult would, for many, set alarm bells ringing, but the pages in their chronicle only flipped faster from there.

Later that December, the two took a trip to Spain together to watch Real Madrid and seemingly plan for their future together, a vision of the boy prince becoming Bernabeu ruler.

There were, however, concerns voiced from one of Endrick's closest allies in this world: his mother, Cintia Ramos.

Amid rumours earlier this year that they were planning to wed, Ramos told a TV show: 'I think the two are too young to get married because there are still a lot of things ahead.' She also bowed her head and covered her face when asked about Miranda's age.

To date, she has not shared any photos from her son's wedding and she even cropped out Miranda from photos of the group appearing on the TV show.

According to extra.globo, while Endrick's parents do have fondness for Miranda, they feared that she would distract him from his career and advised him to hold off.

Those fears were shared by his manager at Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira. 'I hope (Endrick) doesn’t get lost with non-football related things, it’s a piece of advice,' he said. 'Let him focus. If he wants to reach other levels, he has to concentrate on the essentials.'

Palmeiras had an emotional investment in Endrick. The Sao Paulo giants had spotted him as a youngster as he grew up impoverished on the outskirts of Brasilia, his parents skipping meals just so he could eat. They did not want to see him waste his talent.

But Endrick has yet to betray a lack of focus on the pitch. At Palmeiras, he was a success. He was the club's top scorer with 11 goals last season and fired them to a second consecutive title, scoring six in the last eight games of the campaign.

With all that going on, his relationship has only tightened.

Earlier this year, he confessed to Pod Delas that he had agreed to the terms of a 'relationship contract' with Miranda, establishing a framework of rules for their romance.

That includes not being allowed a virtual girlfriend on Grand Theft Auto V, the video game he likes to play often. These girlfriends would not be real people, but rather in-game characters.

Other terms said to be included in the contract forbid Endrick from commenting on other girls' Instagram accounts and reportedly require the pair to base their relationship on 'respect, understanding and affection'.

So far, nothing so extreme. No quibbles with respect, understanding, or affection.

What people have found more bizarre? It turns out Endrick is required to say 'I love you' not only often, but 'in all situations', as per Extra. He is also forbidden from writing words such as 'okay', 'hum', and 'uh-huh' in messages. If he wants to express laughter, he must write 'kkkk'.

Furthermore, acquiring any habits that instigate 'drastic changes in behavior' is forbidden. Should either of them break one of the rules, they are required to pay a 'fine' in the form of a gift.

It is probably easy to overdramatise this. Only Endrick and Miranda know how seriously they take the 'contract'. In any case, it is natural for relationships to have quirks and agreed boundaries of behaviour are healthy.

However, fans on social media have expressed concerns about what appears to be a very limited and deterministic set of rules. Others are worried about the age gap and the fact he was 17 when they got together.

Not that the noise is getting to them. The lovebirds tied the knot this month less than a year after meeting.

In their shared Instagram post beamed a declaration of their Christian faith: 'Matthew 19:6: “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what GOD has put together no one can separate." Finally married.'

It is reported that Miranda has started attending the Lagoinha Church in Madrid, part of a worldwide charismatic Evangelical Baptist megachurch. She also has an Instagram Stories section dedicated to Jesus and shares Bible verses and annotations frequently.

For a young couple who regularly praise God, it appears their faith will be a stabilising force amid all the noise that comes with sudden stardom.

This summer, Endrick surprisingly named Sir Bobby Charlton as his childhood idol, which has earned him the nickname Bobby among his team-mates. Endrick was mocked for naming a player who retired 33 years before he was born.

But if he even achieves half of what the English legend did, it will have been a fantastic career.