Estevao Willian, a rising teenage star, has “everything it takes” to succeed with the Brazil national team, according to legendary Brazilian striker Bebeto.
The Palmeiras youngster reminds him of Ronaldo, according to the Brazil legend.
The World Cup winner stated in a recent interview with FIFA that Estevao could make a big difference for Brazil. Dorival Junior, in Bebeto’s opinion, will bring out the best in A Seleção’s young players.
Before joining Chelsea, Estevao will play for Palmeiras in the 2025 Club World Cup.
at the tender age of seventeen. He has only been a full-time professional football player for a year. However, during his time at Palmeiras, he has fulfilled his potential and skipped a number of developmental phases.
Chelsea is eagerly awaiting his arrival in the second half of this year after the London club signed him in a deal that could be worth up to EUR 61.5 million. His talent has long been recognized outside of the Sao Paulo team’s terraces.
Brazil legend Bebeto, one of the heroes of the 1994 team that won the nation’s fourth FIFA World Cup, is one of the most recent in a long line of admirers.
The legendary Brazilian was gushing about Estevao.
“As you know, Brazil churn out great players time and time again,” said Bebeto. “There’s one born every day – it’s impressive. I’m really confident about Estevao, who’s a special lad. He has everything it takes to shine for Brazil.
“It’s just like when Ronaldo was a youngster. When he was with us in 1994, with me, Muller and Romario, who were the forwards, it was a great learning curve for him, and we could already tell that he was different. Estevao is different, too, you’ll see.”
Estevao ended the year with the most goal contributions in the league, having found the net 13 times and provided nine assists in 31 matches, earning him the Breakthrough Player Award and a place in the team of the season. Only in June, halfway through the season, did the 17-year-old make a name for himself in the first squad.
“At 17 years old, I’m experiencing something unforgettable for me. I’m getting more and more mature, so I just have to be grateful.”, Estevao said.
Estevao was first called up to the national team for the September matches against Ecuador and Paraguay in the South American FIFA World Cup 26 qualifiers due to his performances and maturity. He was then called up again for the most recent qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela in November by Brazil coach Dorival Junior.
Given their current stage of transition, Bebeto sees the side’s mixed form as only natural; however, he thinks they have the most crucial component: the raw materials.
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Because of his speed and ability to escape the full-back, Estevao has mostly played as a right winger for Palmeiras. Coach Abel Ferreira also thought of this as a sort of defensive strategy. In broad spaces, the small and lean prodigy.
Now, with his sights set firmly on the future, the player believes he should move into midfield to give him greater freedom to showcase his creative flair and carve out attacks.
“I started playing as a winger towards the end of my academy days, to avoid as much physical contact and give me more 1v1s. That’s how I earned my spot in the Palmeiras side, where there’s a lot of competition for places in the middle of the park, but really, I’m more of a midfielder. That’s where I’m in my element. In a few years’ time, I’d like to get back to playing in my original position.” Estevao said.
Estevao will remain at Palmeiras until after the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, where the Brazilian powerhouses will play Group A against Al Ahly, Inter Miami, and Porto. He will turn 18 on April 24. Following the competition, he will join Chelsea, who will compete in the USA as well and face Club León, Flamengo, and Espérance in the group stage.
