Estevao, the burgeoning Brazilian talent at Chelsea, has been heralded as the “most talented Brazilian” to emerge since Neymar, according to esteemed South American football expert Tim Vickery. Vickery emphasises that Estevao possesses “two advantages” over the former Barcelona superstar.
Chelsea have quietly been making waves, not just domestically, but across Europe this season. Currently holding second place in the Premier League standings and fifth in the Champions League, they’ve proven their attacking prowess by being among the top scorers in both arenas. Their recent triumph, a resounding 3-0 victory over Barcelona, marked the sixth consecutive match in which they’ve scored multiple times.
A critical part of this success has been the remarkable form of 18-year-old Estevao, who contributed to his side’s win by netting the second goal. This remarkable feat represents his third goal in just five Champions League appearances this season, and astonishingly, he is now the second-youngest player to score in his first three starts in Europe’s elite competition.
Appearing on Sky Sports, Vickery drew comparisons between the young winger and the iconic Neymar, highlighting the significance of Estevao’s choice to ply his trade in the Premier League. “We’ve got, probably now, the first genuine Brazilian superstar to have chosen the Premier League. Usually, they desire a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona. Estevao coming to Chelsea is not something to be taken lightly,” Vickery remarked.
While acknowledging the pressure of such comparisons, Vickery noted Estevao’s resilience under scrutiny. “He seems more stable than Neymar, with noticeably less baggage. I believe the sky’s the limit for him.”
The young star, affectionately nicknamed ‘Messinho’ during his early days at Palmeiras, made an unforgettable debut by scoring against the Uruguayan side, Liverpool. Fittingly, his first Premier League goal was also against the more illustrious Liverpool, foreshadowing a storied career ahead.
Recalling the words of his former coach at Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, Vickery shared, “Ferreira pleaded with Palmeiras not to sell him, declaring ‘this lad is different from anything I have ever seen.'”