Chelsea vs Barcelona: Can Estevao reach Lamine Yamal’s levels?

Digging deeper into this season alone, Estevao has played more games (16 vs. 12), but Yamal has logged more minutes (978 vs. 657).

On a per 90 minute basis, Yamal is level with Estevao in terms of goals, but he provided more assists, took more shots, had more touches in the opposition penalty area, completed more dribbles and created more chances.

However, Estevao has a better shot conversion rate (13.8% compared to 11.3%) and a higher expected goals number (0.7 to 0.4), while matching Yamal’s expected assists score of 0.3.

There is also a stylistic element: both players play left-footed and operate as inverted wingers on the right flank. Estevao is expected to develop into a number 10 as his career develops – like his Chelsea team-mate Cole Palmer – while Yamal is likely to remain on the wing.

Estévão has also been heavily compared to compatriot Neymar, after he surpassed the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker’s record at Santos to become the first under-18 player to score 20 goals and make two assists in the Brazilian Premier League.

Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca says the Brazil international has a bright future ahead of him.

“Estévão is already playing at a high level,” he said. “He has already started for Brazil, of course he is very young, and of course he can do a lot of things better, but we are very happy with him.

“It’s nice for people who love football to watch players like Estevao, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri, that’s the beauty of football, so we’re happy to have Estevao with us, and he will definitely do well.”

“For me personally, the most important thing for Estevao is to enjoy football, to be happy, and not to think about being better than this or that other player, he just has to be better than himself day after day, and try to work hard and improve.”