Last updated on August 11, 2025
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Estêvão ready to make his debut vs Bayer Leverkusen.
Image credit: Debz
The Kopa Trophy is a special award given every year to the best young male footballer in the world.
To be eligible, a player must be under 21 years old, and the winner is chosen by past Ballon d’Or champions.
In 2025, one of the exciting names on the shortlist is Estêvão Willian, a Brazilian winger who is just 18 years old.
Despite his young age, he has already made a big impact in professional football, earning recognition on the global stage.
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Table of Contents
Who is Estêvão?
Estêvão Willian Almeida de Oliveira Gonçalves — yeah, it’s a mouthful — was born on April 24, 2007 in Franca, Brazil.
Most people just call him Estêvão, and soon, you’ll probably be hearing that name a lot more.
He started out at Cruzeiro’s academy before joining Palmeiras in 2021, where his talent was impossible to ignore.
By the time he broke into the first team, it was clear he wasn’t just another promising youngster — he was something special.
Estêvão plays as a winger, the kind of player defenders hate to face.
He’s quick, he’s fearless, and he loves to take people on with his dribbling.
Give him the ball, and you know something exciting is about to happen — whether it’s a burst of pace down the flank or a clever trick to leave a marker chasing shadows.
Why Was He Nominated?
1. A breakout season at Palmeiras
In 2024, he racked up 13 goals and 9 assists — and remember, this was against grown men, not academy kids.
He even made history as the first player under 18 to hit over 20 goal contributions in a single season.
When Palmeiras needed a spark, he was often the one delivering it.
2. Big performances in big games
Whether it was the FIFA Club World Cup or crunch league matches, he stepped up.
He even went as far as scoring against his future club, Chelsea in what proved to be his farewell gift for Palmeiras fans.
Estêvão takes part in Chelsea training.
Image credit: Debz
To do so to a club who went on to become World Champions is a great archievement on his part.
His confidence on the ball and ability to make something happen in tight spaces made him stand out, even on the world stage.
3. A talent the whole world is watching
It’s not just Brazilian fans talking about him — football lovers everywhere have noticed.
From TV pundits to scouts in Europe, everyone agrees this kid has something special.
That’s how he ended up on the same shortlist as players like Lamine Yamal and João Neves for the Kopa Trophy.
4. A massive move to Chelsea
Chelsea didn’t wait around to see if he’d “develop” — they dropped over €60 million to bring him in even before he turns 18.
You don’t get that kind of investment unless people are sure you’re the real deal.
5. Playing like someone older than his years
For someone still only 18, Estêvão plays with the calm and decision-making of a seasoned pro.
He knows when to take on his man, when to pass, and when to slow the game down — rare qualities in such a young player.
What Pundits & Experts Are Saying
Here’s what pundits, media, and fans are saying about the young lad Estêvão — and the consensus? He’s generating real excitement:
Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil’s new coach) calls him a player with “extraordinary, special talent” and describes him as “talented, humble, with drive, personality, and immense creativity”—and believes he’s destined to be a major figure for Brazil’s future .
Former Chelsea player Willian, speaking to ESPN Brasil, likens Estêvão’s playing style and potential to Lamine Yamal, saying:
Without a doubt, he has a lot of potential, a lot of quality… they have a similar style.”
He hopes Estêvão will win many titles with Chelsea .
João Paulo Sampaio, head of Palmeiras’ academy, goes even further—calling him “the best player to have emerged from Brazilian football since Neymar.” He adds, “You watch him and you fall in love.” .
South American media have been equally enchanted.
The Times dubbed him “Brazil’s brightest talent since Neymar”, praising his technical skills, agility, maturity, and grounding presence alongside world-class stats.
They note he’s now one of global football’s top prospects .
What Fans & Observers Are Buzzing About
Estêvão can’t wait to get started for Chelsea.
Image credit: Chelsea Photos
Tim Vickery, a respected commentator on South American football, reportedly said Estêvão is “100% the real deal—at least as good as Neymar at that age.”
On one forum, a fan commented, “The closest player to him in the PL is Foden” .
Across platforms like Reddit, the vibe is unanimous:
“This kid is looking insanely talented… Kid’s legitimately a prodigy.”
“He’s like a one-man chance-creation machine.“
“He plays at a faster speed than everyone else… accessing his tricks instinctively.”
What the Nomination Means
Being among those nominated for the Kopa Trophy at just 18 is massive for Estêvão.
It’s basically football’s way of saying, “You’re one of the best young players in the world right now.”
He’s not just thrown into some random list — he’s right there alongside Lamine Yamal, already tearing it up for Barcelona, Pau Cubarsí, calm as ice at the back, PSG’s exciting João Neves and Désiré Doué, and Real Madrid’s big defensive prospect Dean Huijsen.
Add in names like Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Juventus’s Kenan Yıldız, Porto’s Rodrigo Mora, and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi — and you’ve got a line-up of future superstars.
For Estêvão, it’s a huge confidence boost as he finally joins Chelsea and ready to debut against Bayer Leverkusen.
Conclusion
Estêvão’s journey so far is the perfect mix of raw talent, relentless hard work, and big moments on the pitch.
At just 18, he’s already rubbing shoulders with some of the brightest young stars in football — and he hasn’t even reached his full potential yet.
