Estevao: The 18-Year-Old Magician Carrying Brazil’s Next Great Dream

Estevao: The 18-Year-Old Magician Carrying Brazil’s Next Great Dream

Brazil always seems to have one, the boy who makes football feel like magic again. In the 90s it was Ronaldo, in the 2000s it was Neymar. Now, at just 18, Estevao Willian is the latest name whispered with the same reverence. 

He doesn’t just play football; he plays with joy, with rhythm, with the daring of a kid on the streets of Franca who never lost his spark. His dribbles aren’t tricks; they’re poetry. His goals aren’t just numbers; they’re moments that make you jump off your seat. 

Already a Bola de Ouro winner at 17, Estevao has made defenders look foolish in Brazil, lifted trophies with Palmeiras, and carried the weight of expectations without flinching. Now at Chelsea, the stage is bigger, the lights brighter, but the boy still plays like he’s barefoot in the park.

Getty Images
Photo Credit (Chelsea FC)

What the Football World Is Saying

  • 🗣️Neymar: “He is a great talent emerging in Brazilian football today. I think he's going to be a genius.” 

  • 🗣️Ronaldo Nazario: “Estevao is kind of like Lamine Yamal… He will soon be a very big star in football. He's very promising, and at just 17...” 

  • 🗣️Joao Paulo Sampaio: “Estevao is the best player to have emerged from Brazilian football since Neymar. You watch him and you fall in love.” 

  • 🗣️Leila Pereira: “One day he will be voted the best player in the world. He's a spectacular kid and he's going to shine in Europe.” 

  • 🗣️Enzo Maresca: “Estevao was very good. You can see that he is a huge talent. You can see that he is a fantastic player... We have no doubts… he is going to be a very important player for Chelsea.”

Cunha in Action
Photo Credit (Getty Images)

Player Profile

  1. Full Name: Estavao Willian Almeida de Oliveira Gonçalves

  2. Date of Birth: April 24, 2007 (18)

  3. Place of Birth: Franca, Brazil

  4. Nationality: Brazilian

  5. Height: 1.75m

  6. Preferred Foot: Left

  7. Position: Right Winger

  8. Club: Chelsea

What Makes Estevao Special

🔹 Dynamic Dribbler: A unique “stop-motion” dribbling style that freezes defenders before he bursts past them.

🔹 Creative Vision: Can thread impossible passes, always looking to make something happen. 

🔹 Goal Threat: Scores with both feet, striking cleanly even under pressure—top-corner finishes are his signature.

🔹 Work Rate: Tracks back and presses, even if his defensive positioning is still raw. 

🔹Agility & Balance: Low center of gravity, slippery movement, resilience against bigger defenders.

Image
Photo Credit (Getty Images)

Achievements

  1. Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A – 2023

  2. Campeonato Paulista – 2024

  3. Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer – 2024

  4. Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year – 2024

  5. Bola de Ouro – 2024

  6. Trofeu Mesa Redonda Best Player – 2024

Final Words

Estevao isn’t just another Brazilian starlet hyped too soon. He’s a player who already dominated grown men before turning 18. He has Neymar’s seal of approval, Ronaldo’s prediction, and Chelsea’s trust. 

But beyond the stats and the praise, there’s something deeper: watching Estevao makes you feel something. Excitement. Wonder. The reminder of why we fell in love with football in the first place.

The question isn’t if he’ll be great. The question is how far he’ll take it.

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