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<p>Palmeiras have done it again. Just over a year after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/real-madrid-sign-endrick-palmeiras-agree-60m-deal-brazilian-wonderkid/blt922469cebb1092ab" target="_blank">Endrick agreed a big-money move to Real Madrid in 2024</a> - worth a potential €60 million (£51m/$64m) to the Brazilian club - Estevao Willian is set to become the next prodigious talent to step off the production line when he turns 18 in 2025.</p><p>The prototype of the tricky Brazilian winger, the 16-year-old has grabbed headlines in a breakout six months that has seen him shine throughout the age grades at Palmeiras and on the international stage with Brazil at the Under-17 World Cup.</p><p>He has emerged as the latest Brazilian talent to be coveted by pretty much every elite European club. However, dubbed 'Messinho' during his time at Cruzeiro, the teenager has his heart set on following in Leo's footsteps.</p><p>Can he live up to the hype? Allow <strong>GOAL </strong>to introduce you to potential star of the future...</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Estevao Willian: The 'out-of-this-world' wonderkid trying to shake the nickname 'Messinho' - chased by Europe's elite but dreaming of Barcelona

<p>It speaks volumes that Estevao was coveted by two of Brazil's biggest clubs at the age of 14. Born in Franca in the state of Sao Paulo in April 2007, he began his academy life 10 years later with Cruzeiro in Belo Horizonte. It was there that he picked up the nickname, 'Messinho', or 'Little Messi'.</p><p>Aged just 10, he surpassed both Neymar and Rodrygo to become the youngest-ever Brazilian player to sign with outfitter Nike - a contract he has already extended until 2026 despite still being just 16 years old.</p><p>Four years later, Estevao was at the centre of a furore as he left Cruzeiro in acrimonious circumstances. Having just turned 14, the age at which he could sign his first contract, he was snapped up by Palmeiras, who were subsequently accused of tapping him up by his former club - although they insisted he was "free on the market" at the time as he was not registered at Cruzeiro, with the youngster's father, Ivo Goncalves, choosing Palmeiras.</p><p>The situation was muddied further by Goncalves facing accusations of falsifying documents, having also been employed by Cruzeiro. That came after Estevao's name arose in a scandal at the club involving players' economic rights being sold off to businessmen.</p>

Where it all began

<p>Despite the commotion around him, Estevao would very much do his talking on the pitch, and Cruzeiro's loss proved to be Palmeiras' gain. By the age of 15, he would already be accustomed to hoarding silverware.</p>
<p>Throughout the 2022 campaign he helped the Verdao's youth teams to a raft of trophies across different age grades, including the Campeonato Paulista Sub-17, Campeonato Paulista Sub-15, Copa do Brasil Sub-17 and Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17.</p><center><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyrbVL_LxLh/?hl=en&amp;img_index=5" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<p>It was in the latter competition that he truly seized the spotlight one year on, as Palmeiras retained their title; a 16-year-old Estevao would bag a hat-trick in the final against rivals Sao Paul, scoring every goal in a 3-0 triumph. For the first, he drove from midfield and unleashed a low drive into the bottom corner, before making it a brace with a smart finish inside the box late on. His third came in stoppage-time from the penalty spot.</p>

The big break

<p>Despite his obvious talent, Estevao has only made one senior appearance for Palmeiras to date and, as if to rub salt into the wounds, that came against his former club Cruzeiro on the final day of the 2023 Brazilian Serie A season.</p><p>Aged 16 years and eight months, he became the Verdao's fourth-youngest-ever player as he emerged from the bench in the 1-1 draw - a result that secured the league title for Abel Ferreira's side.</p><p>He now seems primed for a breakthrough year in 2024, and the head of Palmeiras' youth setup, Joao Paulo Sampaio, is convinced that Estevao is destined for success. "One thing these kinds of players have is a strong personality, a big ego to say: ‘I am, I can and I will’. And they do it," Sampaio told <a href="https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/u17worldcup/indonesia-2023/articles/estevao-willian-brazil-exclusive-interview" target="_blank"><em>FIFA</em></a>. "For these out-of-this-world talents, things come easy. It’s difficult for your average player, who make up the vast majority."</p><p>As for that old nickname 'Messinho', the attacker wants to leave it in the past and forge his own path. "He prefers Estevao," said Sampaio. "The Messinho thing was put on hold, but his game is very similar to that of the Argentine."</p><p>At international level, the teenager made his debut for the Under-17 side at the U17 World Cup in Indonesia in 2023. He starred at the tournament, scoring three goals and providing as many assists. However, Brazil's dreams were ended in the quarter-finals by arch rivals Argentina and a hat-trick from <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/claudio-echeverri-argentina-next-lionel-messi-man-city/bltc9488e939c73955a" target="_blank">fellow prodigy Claudio Echeverri</a>.</p>

How it's going

<p>The archetype of the tricky Brazilian winger, it will come as little surprise to read that Estevao's biggest asset is his dribbling ability. Although any comparison to the great Messi is generally lazy and misguided, it is not difficult to understand why some have made that contrast when you see 'Messinho' in full flight. They share that knack of gliding past defenders as though they aren't there, with the ball glued to their feet.</p><p>Speaking to <a href="https://as.com/futbol/primera/endrick-sera-un-jugador-mucho-mas-completo-cuando-llegue-al-real-madrid-n/" target="_blank"><em>AS</em></a>, Sampaio said: "The controls he makes are incredible and his speed with the ball is amazing. The Palmeiras photographer took a sequence of 100 photos of him running with the ball and in all of them he came out with the ball stuck to his left foot."</p><p>Of course, dazzling footwork and an array of tricks lend themselves to Estevao's style of play, although he is more than capable of relying on a simple body feint to buy himself space.</p><p>Two-footedness is something he has been working on, too, but as Sampaio has noted, "his left is already something special". Indeed, he scored two of his hat-trick goals against Sao Paulo with his right before taking and scoring a spot-kick with his left.</p>

Biggest strengths

<p>Estevao's diminutive, 5'6 frame means he is arguably not yet prepared for the rigours of a regular starting place in the Palmeiras first team, nor indeed a move to Europe, but youth coach Sampaio knows that is the next priority. "[The next step is] to improve his physique, but this is also a question of time and maturity," he said.</p><p>Asked to compare Estevao to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/endrick-rollercoaster-season-brazilian-wonderkid-closer-real-madrid-arrival/blt63b491f00ace68dd" target="_blank">Real Madrid-bound team-mate Endrick</a> and another young colleague in Luis Guilherme, Sampaio added: "Estevao has more technical talent than them, but he has not yet matured physically. He is a year younger and genetically still does not have the physical build of the other two, but he is a super phenomenon."</p>

Room for improvement

<p>Although he has long been dubbed 'the Brazilian Messi', a more appropriate comparison might be to the Argentine icon's long-time international team-mate, Angel Di Maria. Both share exceptional ball-carrying ability and wand-like left feet, as well as an extensive repertoire of tricks, and both thrive by coming inside from the flank and wreaking havoc in the central areas.</p><p>Estevao has already shown an aptitude for dribbling with the ball at pace and maintaining his balance to unleash a powerful shot on goal - something Di Maria became renowned for in his heyday.</p><p>Even Estevao's own description of his playing style seems familiar: "I can play on the right, but I feel more comfortable floating in the middle, so I am closer to the area, I can turn left, right and it is the place where I feel freer when playing," he told <a href="https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20231021/1002089874/estevao-willian-alias-messinho-mi-mayor-sueno-jugar-barca.html" target="_blank"><em>Mundo Deportivo</em></a>.<span></span><span><br></span></p><p>The Brazilian may aspire to emulate Messi, but if he comes anywhere close to matching Di Maria's exploits, he will have enjoyed an outstanding career.</p>

The next... Angel Di Maria?

<p>Although Estevao can't leave Brazil until he turns 18 in April 2025, he is almost certain to agree a transfer away before then - just like team-mate Endrick.</p><p>Europe's elite clubs are queuing up to sign the latest jewel to emerge at Palmeiras, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all credited with an interest, but they may all be left disappointed as he has already revealed that he has his heart set on following in Messi's esteemed footsteps in Catalunya.</p><p><a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/next-lionel-messi-palmeiras-wonderkid-estevao-messinho-willian-barcelona/blt1eebec22b9074b86#cs5243554de13a7c85" target="_blank">Asked his footballing dream in October 2023</a>, the 16-year-old said: "To play for Barcelona, which is one of the best clubs in the world. I was born watching Neymar, Messi, and [Luis] Suarez play for Barcelona and that’s the dream I have.</p><p>"I watch almost every Barca match, I’m a fan of the club. I have great admiration for the players who play there and I hope to be there too." Asked if he would like to play at the new Camp Nou once he turns 18, Estevao said: "Yes, it would be a dream come true."</p><p>However, whether Barca can afford him is another matter entirely. The winger is believed to have a release clause worth somewhere between £38-£51m ($48-$64m) - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/barcelona-estevao-willian-man-city-man-utd-chelsea-psg-little-lionel-messi/blte1d68a848ae6518d" target="_blank">a maximum figure the Catalans would struggle to cough up</a> given their current financial predicament. <strong>GOAL</strong> understands <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/chelsea-talks-39m-rated-palmeiras-sensation-estevao-messinho-willian-psg-priced-out/bltfbb808b711d1429e#cs08b9266624aa9a22" target="_blank">Chelsea are trying to negotiate a deal for less than the release clause</a> but including significant add-ons as they look to add yet another young star to their squad. It has been reported that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/wonderkid-chelsea-eur75m-deal-sign-estevao-willian-palmeiras-psg/blt32275d1efd964131#cs39f48eb15a8fd272" target="_blank">the transfer could cost as much as €75 million (£64m/$82m),</a> all told.</p><p>Estevao's father visited a number of elite European clubs, including City, Chelsea and PSG, in October, and his future remains uncertain. Wherever he ends up, though, Sampaio is convinced he will succeed. "We will see where Estevao goes," he said. "We will look for the best for Palmeiras and for the player, but I am sure he is a player who will enchant the world."</p>

What comes next?

Estevao Willian: The 'out-of-this-world' wonderkid trying to shake the nickname 'Messinho' - chased by Europe's elite but dreaming of Barcelona | Goal.com US

GOAL profiles Palmeiras wonderkid Estevao Willian - dubbed &apos;the Brazilian Lionel Messi&apos;

Estevao Willian: The &apos;out-of-this-world&apos; wonderkid trying to shake the nickname &apos;Messinho&apos; - chased by Europe&apos;s elite but dreaming of Barcelona

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