Lamine Yamal and Estevao are both 18, both possess a magical left foot and both are already at home on the Champions League stage. They have another thing in common: Yamal has spent most of his young life being compared to Lionel Messi, pre-ordained as Barcelona’s next legendary figure at only 14 years old; Estevao was dubbed “Messinho” when he first emerged at Brazilian club Palmeiras.
Both have understandably tried to shun the comparison, and yet there were undeniable flickers of a famous Messi goal here at Stamford Bridge. Estevao still had defenders to beat when he received the ball in the inside-right channel 30 yards from goal. What he did next will be remembered for a long time by those who witnessed it, drawing Pau Cubarsi towards him before shimmying around the defender’s legs, holding off Alejandro Balde and crashing a right-footed shot into the roof of the net.
