'A nuisance!' - Estevao Willian explains why he doesn't like 'Messinho' nickname & makes emotional Neymar admission ahead of Chelsea move

Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea in 2025 for a £56 million ($73.1m) transfer fee, has expressed his discontent over being nicknamed 'Messinho.' The moniker, a nod to Lionel Messi, has followed him since his early days at Cruzeiro when he was just 10 years old. Despite its seemingly flattering nature, Estevao admitted the comparison is more of a burden than a compliment.

In a conversation with ESPN, the 17-year-old revealed: "I confess that I haven’t liked being called Messinho since I was little. Since I was ten when I was playing for Cruzeiro. I don’t like comparisons. For those who don’t know how to deal with it, it can be quite a nuisance. At 17, I don’t have time to waste listening to criticism. I want to be happy, I love playing football, I want to enjoy it to the fullest. Me being Estevao is fine.”

While Estevao has drawn inevitable comparisons to Messi due to his nickname, it is Neymar who holds a special place in his heart. The young midfielder has hailed his senior compatriot on several occasions, calling the Brazilian superstar his greatest inspiration, and has admitted he will be an emotional wreck when he finally meets him in person.

"With Neymar, it was only once that he reposted me, but I’ve never spoken to him personally," he said. "I think I will cry [when I meet him]. He’s a guy I look up to, I’ve always seen him play, the greatest reference in Brazil is a huge reference for me."

Estevao emerged as a key figure for Palmeiras this season, contributing 13 goals and nine assists across 31 league matches. His remarkable contributions earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team by manager Dorival Junior, marking another milestone in his budding career. In October, he made headlines by breaking a longstanding record previously held by Neymar as a 17-year-old. The teenager tallied 17 goal contributions in a single season, surpassing Neymar’s record of 16 during his 2009 campaign with Santos.

Esteavo's disdain for the ‘Messinho’ nickname reveals his desire to forge his own unique legacy, unencumbered by expectations or comparisons. With a record-breaking season behind him, a national team call-up, and a high-profile Chelsea move ahead, his future in football looks brighter than ever.