In a match billed as the showdown between the world's two brightest teenage talents, it was Chelsea’s Estevao Willian who claimed the spotlight, guiding his team to a 3-0 victory over Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.
While Lamine Yamal struggled to impact proceedings against a resolute Chelsea defense, his 18-year-old Brazilian counterpart produced a moment of individual brilliance to double Chelsea's lead.
Estevao’s dazzling solo effort in the 55th minute, where he turned Alejandro Balde inside out before firing into the roof of the net, drew immediate comparisons to Lionel Messi from fans and pundits alike.
Estevao, who joined Chelsea from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, described the goal as the pinnacle of his young career. "I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling right now. It really was the perfect night," he told the press. "It all happened very quickly for me... I just found some space, wriggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was definitely the best moment of my career so far."
His performance earned him a standing ovation when substituted late in the game, starkly contrasting with Yamal’s exit minutes earlier amidst jeers from the home crowd.
Lamine Yamal, valued way higher than Estevao and already a key figure for Barcelona and Spain, found himself stifled by Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella. Former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin praised Cucurella’s dominance, noting, "Cucurella just had him in his pocket after that."
Wayne Rooney echoed these sentiments, calling it "probably the best performance I have seen from a left-back for a very long time." Yamal’s frustration was palpable, culminating in his ineffective display before being hauled off in the 80th minute.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was quick to temper expectations despite the hype surrounding his young star. "He and Lamine are very young, so if you start talking about Messi and Ronaldo - it is too much pressure," Maresca stated.
However, he acknowledged Estevao's quality, adding, "Today, in probably the most difficult game of the season, we decided to play with Estevao. It's the gameplan that defines the first 11." The victory not only showcased Chelsea’s tactical discipline but also signaled Estevao’s arrival on the biggest stage.
With this performance, Estevao has firmly announced himself in European football, scoring his fourth goal in as many starts for the Blues, and becominf only the second player after Kylian Mbappe to score a goal in the first three of his Champions League outing.
While Yamal remains ahead in career statistics and accolades, Tuesday night belonged entirely to the Brazilian. As Cucurella noted post-match, "He showed today that he has a lot of personality and he has good quality," suggesting the gap between the two prodigies might be closing faster than anticipated.