The Brazilian prodigy, already signed by Chelsea for a £29 million deal (potentially rising to £56 million with add-ons) to join in July 2025, showcased why he’s dubbed “Messinho” with a moment of pure magic against his future club.
Estêvão, playing his final tournament for Palmeiras before his Stamford Bridge move, received the ball near the byeline in a tight angle on the right flank. With Chelsea’s defense, including Marc Cucurella, closing in, he unleashed a ferocious right-footed strike from an almost impossible position. The ball rocketed past goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, clipping the underside of the crossbar before nestling into the net, equalizing the score at 1-1.
The strike, described by Palmeiras’ official X account as a “golaço,” sent the 70,000-strong crowd into a frenzy and silenced Maresca, whose stunned expression was captured as he grappled with the audacity of the teenager’s brilliance.
This goal was no fluke. Estêvão, who has dazzled at the Club World Cup with man-of-the-match performances against Porto and Al Ahly, proved his big-game mettle despite Brazilian pundits like Paulo Vinicius Coelho questioning his ability to deliver in high-stakes matches. His 13 goals and nine assists in 31 Série A appearances in 2024, combined with his flair for dribbling and creativity, underline his status as Brazil’s brightest talent since Neymar.
The strike against Chelsea, his future employers, was a poetic twist, as Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira had urged him to “show his quality” to the Blues’ faithful.
For Chelsea, the goal was a bitter pill. Having dominated the first half but failing to capitalize beyond Cole Palmer’s earlier strike, Maresca’s side was rocked by Estêvão’s equalizer. The Blues, already reeling from a 3-1 group-stage loss to Flamengo and missing key midfielder Moises Caicedo due to suspension, struggled to regain control. Maresca’s frustration was palpable, not just at the goal but at the irony of his own signing potentially derailing Chelsea’s semi-final hopes against Fluminense.
The match, a rematch of the 2022 Club World Cup final won by Chelsea 2-1, highlighted Estêvão’s readiness for the Premier League. Despite Palmeiras’ defensive absences and a red card in their prior 1-0 win over Botafogo, Estêvão’s moment of genius shifted momentum.
Social media erupted, with fans on X calling it a “goal of the tournament” contender, while others marveled at the teenager’s nerve to produce against his future club. For Maresca, it was a stark reminder of Estêvão’s potential to both haunt and elevate Chelsea when he arrives.
This goal will linger in football lore, a testament to a teenager’s fearless talent and a warning to Chelsea’s rivals of what’s to come.
As Palmeiras pushed for a semi-final spot, Estêvão’s strike ensured his farewell to Brazil would be unforgettable.
*Word count: 614*[](https://x.com/Palmeiras/status/1941319854776074441)[](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4g2290v9yvt)
