Estêvão: Chelsea's new Lamine Yamal debuts with GOAL months after split from girlfriend before joining World champions

Chelsea's new wonderkid, Estêvão Willian, has made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut for the Premier League side in a pre-season friendly against Bundesliga giants Bayer Leverkusen.

The 18-year-old Brazilian, affectionately nicknamed 'Messinho' for his prodigious talent, gave the Club World Cup winners a 1-0 lead before the break, sending the internet into a frenzy. 

Watch Estevao Willian's first goal for Chelsea here:

The goal, has all but confirmed the hype surrounding the teenager, who joined the club after turning 18 in April.

While Estêvão's professional life is soaring, his personal life has recently undergone a significant change. 

Just months before his official unveiling as a Chelsea player, the Brazilian wonderkid quietly ended his relationship with long-time girlfriend Mariana Guarda.

The breakup occurred just two months before his official unveiling as a Chelsea player. 

The couple's journey had been a public one, with Mariana often seen by his side during his remarkable tenure at Palmeiras, where he secured the Paulistão in 2024 and the Brasileirão title in 2023. 

She was also a constant presence at his award ceremonies.

The reason behind their separation remains a mystery, though the report from Glam Set & Match suggests the pair have since 'denounced each other on Instagram,’ suggesting a firm and final ending to their relationship.

Estêvão will be eager to break into Enzo Maresca’s Starting XI as soon as possible, with just two weeks to prepare for the 2025/26 season.

"I am very happy, it feels very rewarding to represent Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world," he told Chelsea's official website on his first day at Cobham. 

"I am very happy and I hope to help the team in the best way possible.

"I am very, very excited. It is a new experience in my life, a new stage. I am looking forward to it and hope that it will go as well as possible."

The comparison between Estêvão and Barcelona's teenage superstar Lamine Yamal has become a central talking point in the football world. 

Both players, born in 2007, are considered the future of the sport.

Estevao has already earned high praise from Brazilian icon Neymar who said: "He is a great talent that is emerging in Brazilian football today. I think he's going to be a genius."

However, Neymar's praise suggests that he could be just as good, if not better.

With his potential and talent, the teenager could become a key player for Chelsea, following in the footsteps of legends like Eden Hazard and Cole Palmer, who lit up Stamford Bridge.