Chelsea's Brazilian teenage sensation Estevao has shattered the early career records of footballing icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with his electrifying start to life in the Champions League.
A Star is Born at Stamford Bridge
Since his summer transfer from Palmeiras, the 18-year-old winger has taken the Premier League by storm. His most dazzling performance yet came in Chelsea's emphatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona, where he scored a stunning solo goal after being teed up by captain Reece James.
This remarkable goal cemented his place in the history books, as he became only the third teenager ever to score in each of his first three Champions League starts, following in the footsteps of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.
By the Numbers: Eclipsing the Greats
According to data from Opta, reported by TNT Sports, Estevao's output has already dwarfed that of Messi and Ronaldo at the same stage of their careers. In just 740 minutes on the pitch, the Chelsea prodigy has netted five goals and provided one assist.
This prolific start stands in stark contrast to the beginnings of the two modern legends. Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo managed just a single goal and one assist in his first 17 appearances for Manchester United, despite accumulating 972 minutes. Meanwhile, Barcelona legend Lionel Messi registered two goals and one assist in 602 minutes during his early breakout period.
The comparison extends to other contemporary stars. Estevao has shown greater composure in front of goal than France captain Kylian Mbappe, who scored only once in his first 556 minutes with AS Monaco. Even his direct rival on the night, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, has managed only two goal contributions in a similar number of games and minutes (784).
Handling the Hype: A Manager's Warning
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was quick to praise his young star after the match, telling BeIn Sports that Estevao and Yamal could be the next Messi and Ronaldo in the next 10 to 15 years. However, he immediately tempered this lofty prediction with a note of caution.
"They are such young boys at 18," Maresca stated. "If you start to talk about Ronaldo and Messi, that's too much pressure for young boys like them. They need to arrive at the training ground happy for sessions. But, when you start to compare them to those two, it could be too much."
Maresca emphasised that the most important thing for both Estevao and Yamal is to enjoy their football and focus on daily improvement, allowing their talent to develop naturally without the burden of immense expectation.
