Chelsea Vs Barcelona: Estêvão Ready To Take On Lamine Yamal

‎When Chelsea hosts Barcelona in the Champions League, football fans will witness more than just a high-stakes clash between two European heavyweights.

‎The spotlight will also shine on two of the sport’s brightest young stars: Chelsea’s Estêvão Willian and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. Both are just 18 years old, and both are widely tipped as future Ballon d’Or winners but their paths to stardom could not be more different.

‎Estêvão: The Brazilian teenager Who Wants to Be Himself

‎Comparisons, especially to a global star, rarely sit well with young talents, but Estêvão has made it abundantly clear that he is determined to carve his own path.

‎Early in his career, the Brazilian winger was dubbed “Messinho” or “Little Messi,” a nickname he described as “disruptive.” In an interview with ESPN Brasil last year, he stated:

‎“I don’t like comparisons. For those who don’t know how to deal with it, it’s quite disruptive. Me being Estêvão is very good.”

‎Chelsea, of course, couldn’t agree more. The club sees him not as a miniature Messi, but as a unique talent in his own right.

‎Estêvão’s start in England has been exceptional, and despite the usual caution around praising teenage prospects, those close to him consistently highlight his maturity and character as qualities that set him apart.

‎Head coach Enzo Maresca isn’t worried about the 18-year-old losing focus; his concern is more about protecting him from burnout as he adapts to the Premier League’s physical demands.

‎Since his £52 million move from Palmeiras last summer, Estêvão has made just seven starts in all competitions, carefully easing into life at Stamford Bridge.

‎The Chelsea Star’s Style and Impact

‎Estêvão is a left-footed winger who operates primarily on the right, a position that allows him to cut inside and wreak havoc on opposition defenders. His style is electrifying and unpredictable.

‎In Chelsea’s recent victory against Wolves, he displayed his creative instincts by cutting in from the outside and delivering a perfectly weighted pass for João Pedro to score. His first league goal for Chelsea, a stoppage-time winner against Liverpool, emphasised his knack for the spectacular a trait that has quickly endeared him to fans.

‎Despite his relative youth, Estêvão is no stranger to big moments. He is already a starter for Brazil, scoring twice during this month’s international break, and could make his 100th club appearance if selected against Barcelona.

‎Lamine Yamal: A Teen Already known in Europe

‎In contrast, Lamine Yamal has been exposed to top-level European competition from an earlier age. Just turning 17, he played a starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 final victory against England.

‎He helped Barcelona win La Liga last season and finished second to Ousmane Dembélé in this year’s Ballon d’Or race.

‎Marc Cucurella, who plays alongside Estêvão at Chelsea and Yamal for Spain, summed up the comparison, “Both of them are very special players. They always want the ball.

‎”The only difference is that Lamine has been playing in Europe for maybe two or three seasons and Estêvão arrived this season, but he’s doing really well. If he continues improving, he can be at Lamine’s level.”

‎While Yamal may currently have more depth in his dribbling and crossing, Chelsea sees Estêvão’s potential as a future playmaker capable of operating in a No. 10 role.

‎Additionally, there have been minor concerns about Yamal’s focus off the pitch this season, with a recent withdrawal from the Spain squad raising eyebrows.

‎The Stage is Set

‎Tuesday’s clash at Stamford Bridge promises to be a fascinating duel. Both players are known for their pace, creativity, and ability to take on defenders, and each could decide the outcome on their day.

‎Chelsea’s strategy will likely involve utilizing Estêvão’s right-wing against Barcelona’s high defensive line.

‎With Cole Palmer returning from injury, the team has additional options to support their teenage star.