Estevao Willian Shines in Chelsea Victory Over Liverpool
This marks the arrival of Estevao Willian in English football.
More than 16 months after a deal was finalized to bring the teenager from Palmeiras to Stamford Bridge, Estevao thrilled Chelsea fans by scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner, securing a 2-1 victory against Premier League champions Liverpool.
The goal ignited such jubilation that Blues manager Enzo Maresca was shown a red card for sprinting 50 yards to celebrate with his players.
Wayne Rooney, a former England forward and pundit on Saturday's Match of the Day, expressed his admiration, stating, "For an 18-year-old, he's a special talent and could develop into a really top player. I think he's the kind of winger who the Chelsea fans will be very excited to see play each week."
Despite suffering injuries to two more central defenders and missing star attacker Cole Palmer, Chelsea found a way to triumph, with Estevao providing the crucial moment.
The goal was relatively simple, as the Brazilian slid in at the back post to convert Marc Cucurella's low cross. However, it came after Estevao, who entered the match as a substitute in the 75th minute, had already tested Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, completed four dribbles, and created two chances for his teammates, including a cross that Enzo Fernandez headed against the post in the 91st minute.
Estevao's quality had been evident in previous matches, where his array of nutmegs, flicks, and other dazzling moves drew gasps from the crowd. Yet, he had yet to score in a competitive match—until now.
‘Everyone wants to give him the ball’
In Brazil, Estevao had already established himself as a star player for one of the country's top clubs and earned seven caps for the national team, now coached by legendary former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
It has understandably taken him some time to adjust in England, arriving after the conclusion of this summer's Club World Cup.
In the absence of Maresca due to his red card, Chelsea assistant coach Willy Caballero remarked, "We know that a young player can struggle when moving from another country to settle here and play for this club. The players are doing a great job involving all the new players, and when we have the chance, we work. I can communicate with him most of the time in Spanish because he understands. He’s a really good kid, and we are so happy for him because he needs it, we need it, and he needed a goal as well."
Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin believes Estevao is destined for greatness. "Every time any Chelsea player gets the ball, they try to find Estevao," Nevin commented on BBC Radio 5 Live. "That tells you a story about a player. He’s an 18-year-old, but everyone wants to give him the ball. That just shows what he’s capable of and what he’s doing in training. He’s going to be special."
Why is so much expected from Estevao?
Senior officials at Chelsea have expressed excitement about Estevao's arrival since they secured his signature more than a year prior to his eventual move to England.
Fittingly, Estevao scored a brilliant goal from a tight angle against Chelsea in a losing effort during his final appearance for Palmeiras this summer. He departed the Sao Paulo-based club with an impressive tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 games.
After that match, he was seen mingling with his future teammates, including England playmaker Palmer, in what appeared to be a moment of mutual respect.
That game likely provided the English audience with their first glimpse of Estevao, but Brazilian football experts have long regarded him as a future star.
He became the first player under 18 to achieve 20 goal involvements in a single season in Brazil's Serie A (12 goals and eight assists), breaking a record previously set by Neymar.
During the Club World Cup, he was named 'superior player of the match' twice and notably impressed against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, earning him the nickname 'Messinho'—meaning 'Little Messi'—in Brazil.
It was seen as a significant achievement for Chelsea to outmaneuver some of Europe's elite clubs, including Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, to secure Estevao's signature. He chose Chelsea due to his belief in their vision and the promise of a significant role in his first season, with aspirations of representing Brazil at the 2026 World Cup.
Estevao consulted former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva before finalizing his decision in 2024. The Blues had initially planned to integrate him gradually, but with Palmer's injury and Estevao's impressive performances, he has featured in every match except for the draw with Brentford due to illness.
Palmer is hopeful of returning from a recurring groin issue after the international break, but even in the absence of the star attacker, Estevao appears poised to create more memorable moments for Chelsea.