Estevao is Brazil’s most talented player since Neymar, but he doesn’t carry much baggage.
That’s what South American soccer expert Tim Vickery thought after Chelsea’s 18-year-old star on Tuesday night, scoring a stunning goal in a 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona.
Estevao quickly became a fan favorite at Stamford Bridge, showing glimpses of his huge potential with some great performances on the big stage.
“He’s considered the best, the smartest, the most talented player to come out of Brazil since Neymar. He has one or two advantages,” Vickery told Sky Sports News, referring to the former Barcelona, PSG and Brazil ace.
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Enzo Maresca highlighted Estevao’s impressive performance in Chelsea’s thrashing of Barcelona in the Champions League.
“He seems more stable than Neymar and has less baggage at the moment. There are limits.”
Estevao and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal have been touted in the past week as the next Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and Vickery says Estevao, who was nicknamed Messino (Little Messi) in his younger days, seems unfazed by the hype around him.
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“Compared to the top draws, they put a lot of pressure on him, but he seems to be responding very well to pressure,” Vickery said.
“From his first game you knew you were dealing with a very special talent, a talent that has been very important for the national team since Carlo Ancelotti took over as Brazil coach. His first start was Ancelotti’s first game and he scored five goals between September and November. He plays a key role in Brazil’s quest to win the World Cup next year.”
Estevao’s journey is unusual in that he came directly to the Premier League from Brazil, completing a £29.1m move from Palmeiras to Chelsea this summer. He has a contract with the London club until 2032, but many of the country’s rising stars are hoping to move to Spanish giants Real Madrid or Barcelona.
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Former Chelsea player and coach Jody Morris believes wonderkid Estevao has already become a cult hero at Stamford Bridge.
Vickery believes Estevao is now an invaluable asset to Chelsea.
“We have the first real Brazilian superstar to choose the Premier League,” he said. “Normally they want Real Madrid or Barcelona, but Estevao came to Chelsea.
“He was on everyone’s wish list and he actually chose Chelsea. His agent said a few months ago that what tilted the situation in Chelsea’s favor was that the clubs were most open to seeing him as a No. 10, rather than a player who sticks to the wing and cuts in. “Obviously it’s a long-term project and that’s one of the reasons why Chelsea won.
“He’s already proven his worth. He’s already put himself in territory where almost no one can afford to buy him. Chelsea have a long-term contract with him. He’s one of the most exciting talents in the global game. I don’t know if all the money in the world could buy him at the moment.”
‘More Estevao’s coming to Chelsea’
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Kaveh Solgekor has explained Chelsea’s transfer plans to sign a young talent like Estevao.
Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News:
“Estevao is a player who ranks among the best young players from South America. Real Madrid were eyeing him, clubs like Arsenal were eyeing him, but so was Barcelona.
“But it was Chelsea who bought him for the initial £29m, allowing him to stay at Palmeiras for an extra season.
“He has developed very well under coach Enzo Maresca and he has been very careful about the amount of play he plays.According to his agent, he chose Chelsea because they were the only club that said to him, “We see him as a number 10 in the future and he can play in midfield.”
“That’s where he wants to play and where other clubs are looking at him as a developing prospect or a wide-ranging player.
“The good news for Chelsea fans is that more Esteva is on the way.
“Chelsea’s recruitment policy is not to sign instant players for £200 million, but to acquire the best young players.
“We have Gio Quenda, who signed from Sporting CP for £44m and will join in the summer of 2026. He had a release clause of £88m, so Chelsea bought him for half of the release fee.
“Some Portuguese say he’s the second Cristiano Ronaldo, I don’t know, but a lot of young Portuguese players are being compared to him.
“A few weeks ago they reached an agreement to sign Dainar Ordonez, a young Ecuadorian centre-back who will join in 2028. They have other contracts planned for 2026 and 2027 and that is their focus.”
“That’s why they have so many people in the recruitment department. They get a lot of criticism for having too many sporting directors, but they seem to be doing well because they’re signing a lot of players like Estevao.”
