Chelsea vs Barcelona: Can Estevao reach levels of Lamine Yamal?

Every promising young forward is assessed on a scale ranging from one to Lionel Messi.

The two youngsters possibly at the top end of this scale are Lamine Yamal – already an international sensation – and now Chelsea’s Estevao Willian.

Yamal, like the legendary Messi of Argentina, rose from Barcelona’s illustrious La Masia academy.

Estevao has been dubbed ‘Messinho’ – meaning ‘little Messi’ – thanks to his performances in Brazil’s premier league, and has made a strong start since joining Chelsea after the summer Club World Cup. He transferred after turning 18, having signed a pre-contract in May 2024 to move from Palmeiras for £29m, potentially increasing to £51m with add-ons.

According to public records, Tuesday’s Champions League clash between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge will mark the first encounter between Yamal and Estevao in an official match. The 18-year-olds were born three months apart in 2007.

They are currently regarded as the two most invaluable teenagers in global football – CIES Football Observatory values Yamal at an impressive £307.4m, while Estevao follows but at £103.8m.

One of the few individuals capable of measuring the abilities of these two forwards is Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella.

Having played with both, he marked Estevao at the Club World Cup during the winger’s last match for Palmeiras. Now, he faces the challenge of containing his international teammate Yamal on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella commented: «I believe both are remarkable players. They possess immense talent, always want the ball, and take on defenders in one-on-one situations. They are game-changers.

«The distinction now is that Lamine has garnered experience in Europe for a few seasons. If Estevao maintains his form, I think he can attain Lamine’s level. They both relish the game, enjoy the ball, and express their abilities.»

It’s evident the duo are similar, yet Yamal excels in most – albeit not all – attacking metrics.

Yamal holds a more established status – having placed second behind Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d’Or, shone when Spain clinched Euro 2024 at just 17, and won the Kopa Trophy twice, designated for the world’s top young player.

Making his debut at 16, Yamal possesses greater experience – particularly at the elite level of European football.

Yamal has netted 31 goals and offered 42 assists across 118 matches for Barcelona, and added six goals in 23 appearances for Spain – becoming the youngest scorer for his nation.

In contrast, Estevao has delivered four goals and one assist in 10 matches for Chelsea. He scored 27 goals and contributed 15 assists in 83 games for Palmeiras, and has netted five times in 11 appearances for Brazil.

Regarding goals per game, Estevao’s ratio of 36 goals in 104 matches surpasses Yamal’s.

Looking more closely at this season alone, Estevao has played more matches (16 vs. 12), but Yamal has logged more minutes (978 to 657).

On a per-90-minute basis, Yamal ties with Estevao on goals but has posted more assists, taken more shots, had more touches in the opposition’s box, executed more dribbles, and created more opportunities.

Nonetheless, Estevao boasts a superior shot conversion rate (13.8% to 11.3%) and a better expected goals figure (0.7 to 0.4), while matching Yamal’s expected assists score of 0.3.

Additionally, there is a stylistic aspect: both players are left-footed and function as inverted wingers on the right side. Estevao is anticipated to transition into a number 10 as his career unfolds – much akin to his Chelsea colleague Cole Palmer – while Yamal is likely to stay on the wing.

Estevao has also drawn significant comparisons to fellow Brazilian Neymar, having surpassed the previous record held by the former Barcelona and PSG attacker at Santos to become the first under-18 player to achieve a combined 20 goals and assists in the Brazilian league.

Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca stated that the Brazilian has a promising future ahead.

«Estevao is already showcasing high-level performance,» he noted. «He’s already starting for Brazil, and while he’s very young and can certainly improve in many areas, we’re extremely pleased with him.

«For football enthusiasts, witnessing talents like Estevao, Lamine Yamal, and Pedri is the essence of the sport’s allure. We’re happy to have Estevao with us, and undoubtedly he will flourish.

«Personally, the key for Estevao is simply to enjoy football, to find happiness in it, and not to fixate on outdoing others, but rather to focus on improving himself each day and working hard.»

Estevao was hailed as Chelsea’s next superstar when a deal was finalized in May 2024.

Chelsea was convinced they had found their equivalent to Yamal, yet there were apprehensions about investing such a significant amount upfront for a player who wouldn’t join them for more than a year.

The initial fee of £29m, with potential add-ons elevating the total to £51m, already appears to be a bargain, one of the reasons Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich did not formally enter the bidding.

Paris St-Germain was the only club to challenge Chelsea’s offer, but Estevao was eager to transition to Stamford Bridge due to the promise of substantial game time in his first season – which aligns with his first opportunity to participate in a World Cup next summer.

This decision exemplifies Chelsea’s far-sighted strategy yielding benefits, showcasing their commitment to nurturing young players.

Such a strategy is vital for Chelsea, who are investing in their future by securing young talents with long-term contracts, especially as matchday income lags behind competitors – especially since Stamford Bridge is increasingly perceived as outdated in 2025 with a capacity of only 40,000 fans.

There were no significant contenders vying for Cole Palmer’s services in 2023, while Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez joined for substantial fees, making Estevao arguably the most remarkable signing in the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital era.

As for his assimilation, Estevao already possesses basic English skills, has his family by his side in London, and has begun driving to training.