Teenage Kicks: The Battle of the Wonderkids
When Chelsea welcome Barcelona to Stamford Bridge for Tuesday night's Champions League clash, the spotlight will fall intensely on two teenage sensations widely tipped to dominate football for the next decade. On one flank will be Barcelona's Lamine Yamal; on the other, Chelsea's Estêvão Willian. Both are 18, both are left-footed right-wingers, and both carry the weighty expectation of future Ballon d'Or wins.
Just Call Me Estêvão: Rejecting the 'Messi' Label
For Estêvão Willian, however, such comparisons are a distraction he actively discourages. The Brazilian winger once disliked being nicknamed 'Messinho' or 'Little Messi' earlier in his career, calling the label 'disruptive'. In an interview with ESPN Brasil last year, the young star made his position clear: 'I don't like comparisons. For those who don't know how to deal with it, it's quite disruptive. Me being Estêvão is very good.'
Chelsea's hierarchy undoubtedly agrees. The club invested £52 million to bring him from Palmeiras last summer, and his start in English football has surpassed expectations. While the risk of hype derailing a young prospect is real, those close to Estêvão insist his strong character is what truly sets him apart. Head coach Enzo Maresca is not concerned about the Brazilian losing focus; the greater priority is protecting him from burnout as he adapts to the Premier League's physical demands.
Stamford Bridge's New Hero
The Chelsea faithful have already fallen for their new star. The Bridge erupted last month when Estêvão announced himself in dramatic fashion, sliding in to score a stoppage-time winner against Liverpool for his first league goal. He has four goals for the club so far and delivered a creative masterclass in a recent win against Wolves, driving down the outside before cutting the ball back with his right foot for an assist.
This penchant for the spectacular is why Maresca may trust him from the start against Barcelona. Estêvão is not a player easily overawed; he is already a starter for Brazil and scored twice for his country during the recent international break. If selected, the match would mark his 100th appearance at club level.
The Road to Elite Status
Despite being three months older than his Catalan counterpart, Estêvão has not had the same exposure to elite European competition. Chelsea's patient approach saw them agree a deal with Palmeiras in May 2024 but allow him to remain in Brazil for an additional year, including a stint at the Club World Cup. In contrast, Lamine Yamal has been operating at the highest level since his emergence. He helped Spain win Euro 2024 the day after his 17th birthday, was instrumental in Barcelona's La Liga triumph last season, and finished second in this year's Ballon d'Or voting.
Marc Cucurella, who plays with Estêvão at Chelsea and Lamine Yamal for Spain, offered his assessment: 'Both of them are very special players. They always want the ball. The only difference is that Lamine has been playing in Europe for maybe two or three seasons and Estêvão arrived this season – but he's doing really well. If he continues improving he can be at Lamine's level.' Cucurella also hinted at a difference in off-pitch focus, suggesting Lamine Yamal has shown signs of being 'a little more distracted' this season.
As the two prodigies prepare to go head-to-head, Chelsea will back their man to shine. The club's thorough background checks revealed not just a phenomenal talent, but a well-grounded individual, the son of a pastor, brought up with strong values. It is this foundation that allows Estêvão Willian to block out the noise, ignore the comparisons, and focus on being nothing other than himself.
