Estevao Willian’s breakout for Chelsea and Brazil has been phenomenal, and while the Neymar comparisons flatter, he’s following the trajectory of one of the greatest to ever lace up.
Chelsea have a star on their hands.
Estevao was Brazil’s best player again in their latest friendly against Tunisia, once more proving that the hype is well warranted.
That’s now nine goals this season for club and country. At just 18, Estevao is already a key player for Carlo Ancelotti.
A tricky, direct winger announcing himself on the world stage at such a young age, it is reminiscent of a similar emergence over a decade ago. Troy Deeney compared Estevao to Neymar only last week.
But perhaps the bar needs to be raised.
Pele playing for Santos in Brazil
Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images
Chelsea star Estevao Willian is on pace with Pele
As much as Neymar is a Brazil legend, he hasn’t come close to the heights of Pele all those years ago.
Estevao, though, has just become the youngest Brazilian since Pele to reach five goals for the national team.
📊 Estevão [18 years and 7 months] is the 2nd youngest player to reach the milestone of 5 goals for the Brazilian National Team!
Only Pelé did it at younger age (17 years and 7 months) in 1958.
» @DataFutebol pic.twitter.com/A8I7mmAFuv
— Chelsea Stats (@Chelsea_stat) November 18, 2025
View Tweet
Pele is the Brazil GOAT, and for some, the greatest full stop.
His international career is unmatched, having won three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1970. He scored 77 goals in 92 games for Brazil, and is still considered the greatest to do it on the international stage.
Estevao obviously has a long way to go to come close to earning Pele comparisons, but the way he has started his senior career makes anything feel possible.
Pele reached five Brazil goals at just 17, and his first major international competition was the ’58 World Cup that year.
He dominated the tournament, scoring a goal in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick in the semis, and a brace in the final against Sweden to secure the trophy for his country.
The context Estevao finds himself in is strikingly similar. He, too, has started off on fire, and his first competitive campaign with Brazil will be this June.
Carlo Ancelotti has high hopes for Estevao Willian
“Estevao has incredible talent on the right. With him, Brazil has a guarnateed future.”
Carlo Ancelotti
It feels unlikely that he will score with the same frequency as Pele almost 70 years ago, but if Brazil were to go all the way in the competition with Estevao leading the charge, it would surely open up some rather exciting conversations.
That’s down the road a bit, still. For now, we can just enjoy his emergence and hope the hot form is maintained at Chelsea.