Last updated on July 5, 2025
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Estevao scored against his future club and received the MOTM award.
Image credit: Fabrizio Romano
At just 18 years old, Estevao Willian gave Chelsea fans a thrilling preview of what’s to come.
In his final match for Palmeiras, the young Brazilian winger scored a stunning equaliser against his so
on-to-be club in the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final — a performance that left fans, players, and coaches deeply impressed.
Though Chelsea went on to win 2–1 and secure a semi-final spot against Fluminense, Estevao’s brilliance stole the spotlight on an emotional night in Philadelphia.
A Glimpse of the Future
In the 53rd minute, Estevao showed his class with a jaw-dropping goal from a tight angle.
It was a moment of magic that reminded many of Brazil’s footballing greats.
Despite playing against Chelsea, the team he’ll soon call home, the teenager didn’t hold back.
Chelsea fans were not frustrated by his goal.
Instead, it excited them — a £52 million investment already looking worth every penny.
Manager Enzo Maresca summed it up best:
“Happy because we won and also happy because Estevao scored — the perfect night. He’s a huge talent. We’ll help him adapt, enjoy his football, and grow into an important player.”
Chelsea Beat Europe’s Elite to Sign Him
Chelsea secured Estevao’s signature last summer, beating top clubs like Bayern Munich, PSG, and Manchester City.
They agreed to let him stay at Palmeiras for one more season, which allowed him to represent the club in this Club World Cup.
But on Saturday night, his performance — full of speed, flair, and maturity — may have made Chelsea wonder if they should’ve brought him in sooner.
Estevao’s Final Gift to Palmeiras
Estevao’s farewell goal wasn’t just skillful — it was emotional.
After the final whistle, he and Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira were moved to tears as they spoke about their time together.
“I spoke before with Maresca and told him ‘you bought an amazing player but more than this you bought an amazing person’.
“You need to take care of him. You need to embrace him and in the beginning for sure he will make mistakes. Like you saw today he is an amazing player with a lot of skill. He is a player who can win a game alone.”
Estevao added:
Palmeiras opened the door for me. I was deeply happy in Palmeiras and my family knows how happy I was.
“I’m very happy I could score a goal to help my club unfortunately this wasn’t the result we wanted but we gave our best on the pitch and now I am moving on.”
Palmer’s Praise and a Lost in Translation Moment
Estevao exchanging pleasantries with his future teammates.
Image credit: Conn
Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who scored in the match, was seen chatting with Estevao afterward.
“I told him we’re excited to have him join — but he didn’t understand a word,” Palmer laughed.
The Next Brazilian Star?
Estevao has been compared to Neymar — and not lightly. According to Joao Paulo Sampaio, the head of Palmeiras’ academy:
“He’s the best talent we’ve seen since Neymar. He hasn’t even reached full physical maturity yet, so his potential is frightening.”
Known earlier as “Messinho” (Little Messi), Estevao was already breaking records as a kid:
- Signed his first Nike deal younger than Neymar and Rodrygo
- Almost joined Palmeiras at age 10, but Cruzeiro offered 10 times more
- Became Brazil’s youngest Nike athlete before he was 13
- He eventually returned to Palmeiras and became one of the most promising players in Brazil’s “Generation of a Billion,” alongside Endrick and Luis Guilherme.
A Mentality Beyond His Years
Estevao is more than just skill — he’s mentally tough. Sampaio shared a story from 2022:
“When we won the 2022 U-17 Brazilian Championship title, Estevao ended up breaking one of his toes during a decisive game,” he said.
“But even so he still didn’t want to leave [the game], so he came to me at half-time saying, ‘I’ll go back for the second half’.
And I challenged him: ‘You better go back.’
And so he had a painkilling injection in his toe and told me, ‘I’ll go back, score a goal and look for you in the stands to shush you.’ That’s how strong he is mentally.”
No Worries About Chelsea Move
Some in Brazil question Estevao’s decision to join Chelsea, citing how young talents like Andrey Santos, Deivid Washington, and Angelo Gabriel have struggled there.
But his camp remains confident.
They believe Chelsea will give him the quickest path to regular first-team football — crucial for his goal of making Brazil’s 2026 World Cup squad.
As Sampaio put it:
“It’s not about choosing an easy club. Estevao is the kind of player who shows up and delivers. That’s what makes him special.”
Final Thoughts
Saturday night was more than a football match.
It was a farewell, a statement, and a warning to Europe’s top clubs: Chelsea may have just signed Brazil’s next big thing.
