Chelsea prodigy Estevão Willian says Neymar, not Messi, inspired his football career and rejects the “Little Messi” nickname.
Chelsea’s teenage sensation, Estevão Willian, has distanced himself from comparisons with Lionel Messi, declaring that Neymar, not the Argentine legend, is his true football idol. The 17-year-old Brazilian, who scored a dramatic late winner in Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, said he and his family never liked the nickname “Messinho” (Little Messi) given to him in Brazil.
“I only knew about Nike because of Neymar,” he told FourFourTwo. “He was my idol growing up, and he wore Nike boots when he played for Santos.”
Estevão admitted that the Messi tag “became a burden,” adding, “You just want to play football, but that kind of label adds pressure that’s not yours.” The winger, who began learning English 18 months before joining Chelsea, said he wanted to adapt quickly and prove himself. “It’s a dream come true to play in the Premier League and the Champions League,” he said. “The 2026 World Cup is a goal too.”