‘Believe the hype!’ – Estevao shines as Lamine Yamal can’t get out Cucurella’s pocket

Robin Bairner

26 Nov 2025 08:19 GMT
5 min read

Willian Estevao, Chelsea, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Chelsea wonderkid Willian Estevao underscored his brilliant start to the season by outshining Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal as the Blues ran rampant in a 3-0 Stamford Bridge victory.

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A scrappy Jules Kounde own goal gave Enzo Maresca’s side the lead before half-time, with Ronald Araujo’s red card on 44 minutes further swinging the momentum in their favour.

But the game caught light in the second half when Estevao scored a brilliant goal that was subsequently added to by Liam Delap.

Current ETV

Estêvão

F, M (R)

Chelsea

Estêvão

F, M (R)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€55.2M - €92.1M

It was the young Brazilian's strike that really caught the eye, though. Gathering the ball on the right side of the field, he jinked beyond Pau Cubarsi before lashing the ball high into the Barcelona net from a tight angle.

Estevao has come up with some blistering moments already in his young Chelsea career, but his overall performance against Barca was arguably his most complete to date, and left pundits drooling over the 18-year-old.

“Start believing the hype,” former Chelsea Player of the Year Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live. “The goal's the bit everyone will see, and it was wonderful in a number of ways.

“It was just so tight, the footwork, and it's a brilliant, brilliant finish.

“But all the other parts of his game, the intelligence, the movement, the picking up of position... he's a natural. Because usually footballers are called natural and they're not - but it just looks so effortless for him. Some players just move differently to other players, a grace and elegance. It's beautiful to see.”

What did Estevao say after the Barcelona match?

Estevao said that the match was the best moment of his career to date.

“I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling right now. It really was the perfect night,” Estevao told Amazon Prime.

“It all happened very quickly for me - it sort of happened before I knew it. I just found some space, wriggled my way through and then scored that goal. It was such a special moment for me in my career. I hope to score many more.

“It was definitely the best moment of my career so far.”

© IMAGO - Estevao has made a quick start to his Chelsea career

Maresca plays down Messi and Ronaldo comparisons

Manager Enzo Maresca is trying to keep the youngster’s feet on the ground after comparisons have been made to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“It’s too much to be compared to them,” he argued. “He and Lamine are very young, so if you start talking about Messi and Ronaldo - it is too much pressure.

“He needs to relax, enjoy playing football and the training sessions.”

Maresca would not even commit to making Estevao a regular starter at Chelsea.

“If he doesn’t play, then Pedro Neto plays wide. We’re happy with Pedro as well,” the Italian said.

“It depends on the gameplan and we use 11 players. Today, in probably the most difficult game of the season, we decided to play with Estevao. I am not one to deny players minutes. It's the gameplan that defines the first 11.”

What happened to Lamine Yamal?

In what was billed as a battle of two future stars, Estevao comprehensively came out on top ahead of Lamine Yamal.

“Cucurella had Lamine Yamal in his pocket,” Robert Sanchez claimed (via Fabrizio Romano).

I think it's probably the best performance I have seen from a left-back for a very long time.

- Wayne Rooney on Marc Cucurella

It was an assessment that was echoed by Nevin.

“At the beginning of the game, Lamine Yamal was getting the upper hand, he looked great, he looked graceful, and then he disappeared. Cucurella just had him in his pocket after that,” Nevin said.

“By the end, Lamine’s head was swimming.”

Former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney added: “Cucurella was absolutely incredible. I think it's probably the best performance I have seen from a left-back for a very long time.”

Not only did Chelsea win, then, but Estevao has got what promises to be a long and thrilling rivalry with Lamine off to a successful start.

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