Enzo Maresca compares Chelsea's Estevao & Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to Messi & Ronaldo

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :November 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM

Modified at :November 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM

Enzo Maresca compares Chelsea's Estevao & Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to Messi & Ronaldo

Estevao inspired Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Lamine Yamal’s Barcelona.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca thinks Estevao and Lamine Yamal might be the next Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo if they are given the freedom to enjoy their football.

The Brazilian drove into the penalty area from the right flank and blasted home a beautiful goal as Chelsea defeated ten-man Barcelona 3-0 on Tuesday in the Champions League.

After Kylian Mbappe (18 years, 113 days) and Erling Haaland (19 years, 107 days), the Brazilian, who is 18 years and 215 days old, is the third youngster to register a goal in each of his first three Champions League starts.

Enzo Maresca talks about two highly-rated youngsters

Estevao Willian Chelsea Premier League — RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – SEPTEMBER 04: Estevao Willian of Brazil celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the match between Brazil and Chile as part of the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier at Maracana Stadium on September 04, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Ruano Carneiro/Getty Images)

Along with creating a game-high three opportunities and attempting five dribbles, the Brazilian tied Pedro Neto for the most among Chelsea players. Maresca spoke to BeIN Sports about the potential rivalry between Estevao and Yamal, highlighting their need for time to grow.

“As Raphinha said, probably in the next 10, 15 years, Estevao and Lamine Yamal are probably going to be the next Messi and Ronaldo,” he stated.

However, he stressed that both players should focus on enjoying their football and improving daily.

Do you agree with Enzo Maresca? 👀 pic.twitter.com/8lmUH1cGKT
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) November 26, 2025

After his outstanding exploits at Palmeiras, the 18-year-old underwent a prearranged transfer to Chelsea. Although his ability to score from wide areas has garnered attention, Maresca maintains that the youngster and Barcelona star Yamal need to maintain their composure and enjoy their play without giving in to outside pressure.

In closing, Maresca emphasised how crucial it is for young players like Estevao and Yamal to be happy during training sessions. He cautioned that at this point in their careers, comparing them too soon to well-known players like Ronaldo and Messi would be too much for them.

Who is the youngest among Yamal and Estevao?

Both are 18 years old.

How many goals has the Brazilian scored this season?

He has one goal in the league.

How many goals has Yamal scored this season?

He has scored four goals.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.