Palmeiras’ promising teenage winger Estêvão Willian has made it clear that he does not appreciate the nickname ‘Messinho,’ a moniker given to him due to his early comparisons to Lionel Messi.
The 17-year-old, who is set to join Chelsea next summer, revealed his desire to carve out his own identity in football.
“Since I was little, being called Messinho, I confess that I didn’t like it,” Estêvão told ESPN Brasil.
“I don’t like comparisons. For those who don’t know how to deal with it, it’s quite disruptive.”
The nickname originated when Estêvão, then a youth player at Cruzeiro, began drawing attention for his playing style, which was reminiscent of the Argentine superstar.
However, Estêvão, now a key player for Palmeiras, insists that he prefers to be known simply as Estêvão.
“At 17 years old, I don’t have time to waste listening to criticism. I want to be happy, I love playing football, I want to enjoy it to the fullest. Me being Estêvão is very good,” he added.
Estêvão has made a significant impact since his promotion to Palmeiras’ first team earlier this year, scoring 13 goals and providing 9 assists in 31 league appearances.
His performances helped Palmeiras finish second in Brazil’s Serie A, earning him the title of Breakthrough Player in the league.
Former Brazil and Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also weighed in on Estêvão’s potential, praising both his footballing talent and his character.
“He draws the attention of those who work for the Brazilian team because of the way he behaves, as a player and as a person,” Scolari told ESPN Brasil.
“We would just like him to do or continue doing what he does for Palmeiras at Chelsea, that is, boldness, dribbling, speed, desire to play football, that he continues like this.”
When asked what advice he would give to Estêvão ahead of his move to Chelsea, Scolari emphasized the importance of communication and staying true to his bold playing style.
“To learn English well, communication is important. But my biggest advice is to keep being bold.”
“If your coach understands that this is your virtue and your teammates understand this quality, they will help you.”
As Estêvão prepares for his move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, it seems clear that he is determined to make his own mark on the game—without the shadow of comparisons to Messi.
