Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hailed Estevao’s “special” talent but urged restraint over comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the 18-year-old Brazilian inspired a commanding 3-0 win over 10-man Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
In the first competitive meeting between the two most hyped teenagers in world football, it was Estevao, rather than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who seized the stage. The Chelsea forward produced a dazzling solo goal, weaving past Pau Cubarsí before rifling into the roof of the net, becoming only the third teenager to score in his first three Champions League starts.
Earlier in the night, Maresca had echoed comments from Raphinha, suggesting the pair could define an era much like Messi and Ronaldo. But by the time he faced the media, the Italian struck a more cautious tone.
“They are such young boys at 18,” he said. “If you start comparing them to Ronaldo and Messi, it’s too much pressure. They just need to enjoy their football.”
Yamal, who finished runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, endured a frustrating evening as Marc Cucurella produced an outstanding defensive display to nullify the Spaniard’s threat. Cucurella, a team-mate to both prodigies at international level, suggested Estevao is “catching up quickly”, despite Yamal’s earlier breakthrough in Europe.
Estevao described scoring against Barcelona as the “most special moment” of his career, adding: “It all happened so quickly. I just found space, wiggled through and scored. It was the perfect night.”
Chelsea’s victory moves them firmly into the Champions League’s top eight, and while Maresca is keen to temper the noise around his young star, the excitement at Stamford Bridge is unmistakably growing.
GFN | Finn Entwistle
