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Football Wyscout Performance Analysis

Estêvão - The New Jewel of Brazilian Football

6 min Read

Using Wyscout data, we profile one of the most exciting players to emerge from Brazil in recent years ahead of his move to Chelsea.

When Chelsea announced in June 2024 that they could ultimately end up spending an eye-watering £56 million on a Brazilian teenager who would not even be able to join the club until his 18th birthday a year later, it appeared a significant risk. Fast forward six months and it already looks like something of a snip. 

Not since Neymar burst onto the scene with Santos fifteen years ago has a player looked as exciting as Palmeiras phenomenon Estêvão. 

Now, that is not to suggest Chelsea paid that sum plucking an unknown teenager from obscurity. Estêvão had long been vaunted as a potential star but it’s one thing to be the leading man in Palmeiras’ title winning under-17s or dazzle at the Copinha, and another to effortlessly produce the same goods at senior level. 

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And that is exactly what Estêvão did over the second half of 2024. Palmeiras’ title charge may have fallen just short but the 17-year-old could have done no more - named as the Brasileirão Revelation of the tournament and awarded the prestigious Bola de Ouro for his breathtaking individual performances.

Estêvão tops 2024 Brasileirão direct goal involvements - Wyscout Rankings

13 goals, only outscored by Corinthians’ Yuri Alberto and Alerrandro of Vitória, and a league high 9 assists, evidence of a sensational first full season.

This end product distinguishes Estêvão from so many others at this fledgling stage of their careers; the skill and technique of others perhaps evident in flashes and in cameos, rather than in consistent match winning displays. 

Estêvão's dribbles in the final third map - Wyscout Player Report

But of course Estêvão has the eye-catching flair in abundance too. Predominately playing off the right, the one they call Messinho - due to his similarities to a certain left-footed Argentine - comes alive with the ball at his feet.

11.04 dribbles per 90 sets Estêvão comfortably apart from any other player in the league and it is this individual brilliance which makes the youngster so dangerous. A terrific change of pace, great balance, quick feet and unpredictably make him a full-back’s nightmare. 

Brasileirão Dribbles per 90 - Wyscout Rankings

But Estêvão is a problem not only for full-backs. More than able to go on the outside of an isolated left-back, Estêvão will roam looking for space, equally proving a headache for midfielders and central defenders, with the suggestion that a more central role will be in his future. 

His positional awareness is excellent and the scope to play as a number 10 or off a striker is clear, yet operating in those tighter spaces and with less time takes time to perfect. The talent to be able to influence from such a position is undeniable but at present his chaos is better harnessed from a wider starting position. Further development will perhaps bring with it the understanding of when to slow things and with it take more control of a game.

Estêvão's Shot Map - Wyscout Player Report

Thinking about changing anything at present might be foolish given Estêvão’s success. Much of that comes by driving or weaving inside onto his deadly left-foot. A clean striker of the ball, the teenager is capable of scoring from distance and has demonstrated this with a number of spectacular goals among his 15 goals for the Palmeiras first team in 2024

Brimming with confidence to take on defenders and get shots off, Estêvão averaged 3.22 shots per 90 with only Corinthians’ Netherlands international Memphis Depay firing on goal more often. His eagerness to shoot from far and wide provides an explanation for a percentage on shots on target of 43.9%, well below the most accurate finishers in the league, but also sees Estêvão outperform his xG - scoring 13 from an xG of 9.37. 

Estêvão's Shot Assists - Wyscout Player Report

Despite his prolific shot map, Estêvão is by no means selfish, with no player creating more goals in Brazil’s top flight (9 assists). Boosted by the fact he occasionally stood over set pieces for Palmeiras, due to the earlier mentioned quality of his striking, his 2.7 shot assists per 90, ranked 3rd among all attacking players.

His awareness of both surroundings and teammates aids his passing and while he often looks for the quick one-two exchanges which see him progress up the pitch, Estêvão is good in possession. 34.2 passes per 90 with an accuracy above 80% ranks favourably among all attackers, allowing for the risks he takes on the ball.

Estêvão's ball construction map - Wyscout Player Report

Wanting to make things happen and conjure up moments sees Estêvão look for those passes into the penalty area and understandably accuracy suffers as a result. His heavy involvement in Palmeiras’ attacking play was, however, a worthwhile trade off. 

4.5 progressive passes per 90 in the league is decent but it is in his carrying of the ball where the real brilliance of Estêvão can be witnessed. No player surpassed the youngster’s 5.93 progressive runs per 90 and this ability to move the Verdão up the pitch quickly made them so dangerous. 

Estêvão's ball progression - Wyscout Player Report

A target for defenders, Estêvão is no stranger to some rough treatment but deals with the physical aspect of the game well despite his skinny frame. Only 17 and still maturing, there is a likelihood that he will bulk up slightly in the coming years and that may aid him in those duels.

Defensively too it could help. Estêvão is a willing runner and looks to press - completing 1.8 recoveries in the final third and 2.7 counter pressing recoveries – but these are numbers which could improve with a better understanding and arguably more of a physical presence. 

Estêvão's recoveries map - Wyscout Player Report

Estêvão’s rapid development and immediate impact on first team football is testament to the excellent work done by Palmeiras at youth level. As well as multiple titles at various age groups, they received big fees for academy graduates like Endrick, Luis Guilherme, Danilo, Gabriel Jesus and, most recently, Vitor Reis, who has joined Manchester City after making just 18 senior league appearances.

For now Estêvão will remain in Brazil until the summer when at the age of 18 he will be able to make the move to Chelsea. Most making such a leap would likely be thinking about possible loans or a period of adaptation and while any teenager leaving South America for England must be afforded that, there is a sense that with this level of talent he’ll be ready to play some part immediately. 

Amid a flurry of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge over the past year or so, there is perhaps none that should excite supporters as much as the arrival of Estêvão. For the rest it’s the intrigue to see just how far his talent can go. 

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