On Tuesday, Chelsea earned an vital 3–0 victory over Barcelona on Matchday 5 of the league section within the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. There, Estevao reached a powerful milestone shared by Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Ten minutes into the second half at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea main Barcelona 1–0, Estevao obtained a move from Reece James, entered the field after slipping previous Pau Cubarsi, and—regardless of strain from Alejandro Balde—fired a robust shot that Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia couldn’t cease.
With that purpose, Estevao turned the third participant underneath the age of 20 to attain in every of his first three Champions League begins. He made his European debut in September in opposition to Bayern Munich, approaching close to the top of the match, and did the identical in opposition to Benfica a couple of weeks later.
Nevertheless, the 18-year-old solely had the prospect to make his first UEFA Champions League begin in October, when he scored in opposition to Ajax. That efficiency was adopted by one other standout outing—with a purpose—in opposition to Qarabag FK. And his third got here this Tuesday, at least in opposition to Barcelona.
Chelsea’s Estevao.
Estevao matches Haaland and Mbappe
Within the historical past of the UEFA Champions League, solely two different gamers had managed to attain of their first three matches as starters whereas nonetheless youngsters. The primary was Kylian Mbappe, who achieved the feat with AS Monaco by scoring 5 targets in his first 4 begins.
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That got here throughout the 2016–17 season, when the French star was simply 18 years previous. In Mbappe’s case, these targets have been much more exceptional as a result of they got here within the knockout levels: he scored in each legs of the spherical of 16 in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, and did the identical in opposition to Borussia Dortmund within the quarterfinals.
Two years later, Erling Haaland produced related numbers with RB Salzburg. In his first-ever Champions League match, at simply 19 years previous, the Norwegian striker scored a hat trick in opposition to Genk. He then scored once more in every of his subsequent two begins, each in opposition to Napoli within the group stage.
Estevao’s numbers at Chelsea
From his early days at Palmeiras, Estevao was seen as probably the most promising younger gamers on this planet. That prompted Chelsea to pay round $40 million for him, in a deal that might exceed $75 million relying on bonuses.
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The performances of the younger Brazilian winger since arriving in England have greater than justified the cash the Blues invested. Estevao has performed in 17 of Chelsea’s 19 matches this season throughout the Premier League, Carabao Cup, and Champions League, recording 5 targets and one help. Little by little, and regardless of his age, he has earned a spot in coach Enzo Maresca’s plans, in addition to with the Brazil nationwide crew underneath Carlo Ancelotti.
