Chelsea’s wonderkid Estevao starred in Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Barcelona, scoring a brilliant solo goal, but manager Enzo Maresca dismissed comparisons with Lionel Messi.
The 18-year-old Brazilian’s moment of magic came 10 minutes after half-time, receiving the ball on the right, beating two defenders, and smashing it into the top corner of Joan Garcia’s net. This was Estevao’s 10th goal of the season for club and country, just months into his first campaign at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s other goals came from an own goal by Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and a late strike from substitute Liam Delap. Barcelona was reduced to 10 men late in the second half when captain Ronald Araujo received a second yellow card.
After the match, Maresca was asked if Estevao’s strike reminded him of Messi, but the manager said it resembled a goal the young winger had scored for Palmeiras against Chelsea at the Club World Cup in July.
Maresca emphasised that Estevao, along with teenage rival Lamine Yamal, should enjoy their football without pressure.
“Him, Lamine, they are so young, at 18, that if you start to talk about Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo, I think it’s too much pressure for young boys like them,” Maresca said. “Eighteen, they need to enjoy, they need to arrive at the training ground, happy.”
Estevao, serenaded by Chelsea fans after the game, described the moment as the best of his career so far.
“I don’t really have any words to sum up how I’m feeling right now,” he told Amazon Prime. “It really was the perfect night. I’m just grateful to God for everything that has happened for me.”
He added, “From the moment I arrived here, I felt such a connection with the fans. I’m just so happy that I could score for them and make them happy. I hope to keep making them happy and score more goals for them.”
Maresca confirmed that Estevao’s playing time depends on game plans, not his rising profile.
“Tonight, we decided, probably in the most difficult game of the season, we decided to play with Estevao,” he said. “I’m not a manager that doesn’t allow players to play minutes. It’s just the game plan that decides the first 11.”
