Chelsea-Bound Estevão Eyes Future Ballon d’Or Battle with Lamine Yamal and Mastantuono
Brazilian wonderkid Estevão Willian, who is set to join Chelsea, has set his sights on future Ballon d’Or glory, boldly declaring his ambition to rival fellow teenage sensations Lamine Yamal and Franco Mastantuono in the years ahead.
In an interview with AS, the 17-year-old Palmeiras winger showed both confidence and humility, praising his generational peers while declaring his intent to compete at football’s highest individual level.
“[Lamine] is a great player who had an incredible season. I followed him closely in the Champions League and I was really rooting for him,” Estevão said.
On Mastantuono, he added: “He is also a great player with incredible potential.”
And when asked whether he sees himself challenging them for the Ballon d’Or, the Brazilian starlet replied:
“I sincerely hope so. We’re all the same age. It would be very interesting to find ourselves in that situation.”
👶⚽ The Rise of the Wonderkids
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): The Spanish winger has already lit up the UEFA Champions League and Euro 2024, making him a front-runner for this year’s Golden Boy and a dark horse for the Ballon d’Or itself.
Franco Mastantuono (River Plate): A rising Argentine star with growing interest from Real Madrid and top European sides.
Estevão: A dribbling wizard from Brazil, dubbed “Messinho” for his style of play. He will join Chelsea in 2025 and is seen as a potential superstar under the club’s youth-first vision.
💬 Opinion: Estevão’s Ambition Is What Football Needs
It’s refreshing to see young talents like Estevão speak with respect for their peers and bold belief in their own future. In a football world where media hype often overshadows substance, Estevão is showing the mentality of a player who wants to earn his place at the top.
His willingness to name-drop Yamal and Mastantuono not as rivals, but as worthy challengers, signals a generation that could redefine global football over the next decade — one where Europe, South America, and Africa exchange brilliance equally.
📈 What’s Next?
Estevão will remain at Palmeiras until mid-2025 before joining Chelsea.
Mastantuono is expected to make a move to Europe in the next 12 months.
Yamal could be a top-5 Ballon d’Or contender as early as this year, if his Euros form continues.
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#Estevao #ChelseaFuture #Messinho #LamineYamal #FrancoMastantuono #BallonDorDream #Wonderkids2025 #NextGenFootball #BrazilianTalent #LaMasiaMagic #SouthAmericanRising
👑 Which of these wonderkids do you think will dominate world football in the next five years? Will Estevão live up to the hype at Chelsea? Drop your thoughts!
