The 2024 Brazilian Série A season drew to a close this weekend, with Botafogo (!) winning only their third title and completing a most historic Double in the process after winning the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history a couple weeks ago as well.
Botafogo should’ve won the title last year, too, but squandered a 13-point lead. No such problems this time, as they led most of the way, holding off Estêvão’s Palmeiras by six points in the end. Palmeiras lost two of their last three games to finish out the season, including on the final day to Thiago Silva’s Fluminense, who thus survived the drop by the skin of their teeth. Silva celebrated the accomplishment by crawling on his knees across the pitch. Flu, who were bottom of the table when he arrived in the summer, lost just twice in the 15 league games he’s played.
But back to Estêvão, who finished the season third in the league in scoring with 13, adding 9 assists for 22 goal contributions in 31 appearances. He had already claimed the record in October, but he’s now set the new scoring benchmark for players under 18 in the league, beating [Neymar’s previous record](https://www.transfermarkt.us/next-brazilian-superstar-estevao-breaks-neymar-u17-record-for-goal-contributions/view/news/445257) by six.
With the season now over, our future superstar has also collected the individual awards for Best Young Player and Best Forward as well.
He’s set to stay with Palmeiras until the summer (he turns 18 in April), at which point he will be joining Chelsea for real — either just before or just after the Club World Cup, in which both Chelsea and Palmeiras are set to participate. He’ll probably come visit during the winter break, along with young Kendry Páez, whose (somewhat less impressive) season is now also finished.