The Real Madrid winger, speaking on Cazé TV, described Endrick's build-up to the tournament with both affection and a degree of exasperation.
"Endrick was driving me crazy," he said. "He was writing to me every day saying he was nervous. I told him to calm down, that everything was going to go well. He did it. A World Cup at 19 is not for everyone. He even came here afterwards and said we had to celebrate."
Endrick, who turns 19 during the tournament, has been included in coach Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the first time at a World Cup. After a successful loan with Lyon from Real Madrid, he has already been tipped as one of the tournament's potential breakout players.
The reunion with Neymar carries a different kind of weight.
Vinícius and Neymar overlapped in the Brazil squad for several years before the Santos forward's career was derailed by a serious knee injury that ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup and, effectively, most of the subsequent three years. Neymar's return to the squad under Ancelotti — whom he played for at Real Madrid in 2013 — is one of the more emotionally charged stories heading into the tournament.
"Neymar is our idol," Vinícius said. "I have always had enormous affection for him and he has always defended me a lot. After every squad announcement, Neymar would say to me: 'Damn it, Ancelotti did not take me again, I am really sad.' But I always told him that the old man trusted in him and that when his moment came, he would take Ney."
He described how much Neymar supported the younger generation during their early international careers — the moral support, the encouragement, the consistent presence even when his own involvement was limited.
"We always gave us a lot of morale. Being able to play with him again is going to be an honour. And, if God wills it, may it be the last marvellous dance."
Brazil are in Group E alongside Spain, Denmark and Morocco. Their opening match is against Morocco in Los Angeles on 15 June.