Chelsea vs Barcelona: Estevao out to upstage Lamine Yamal in battle of wonderkids | OneFootball

Teenage prodigies tipped as future Ballon d’Or winners set to Champions League showdown at Stamford Bridge

The stage is set for a battle of the wonderkids as Estevao, already a Chelsea fans’ favourite, seeks to announce himself at the highest level and upstage Lamine Yamal.

When he does so, he will, as ever, get the home supporters off their feet and cheering him on, as he darts down the right flank, working the ball closely and waiting for the chance to cut in on his preferred left foot and drift into the centre.

It is a remarkably similar approach to that of Barca’s own right-winger, and the similarities between Estevao and Yamal do not end there. Born just three months apart, they are the great hopes of the futures of Barcelona and Chelsea. The 18-year-olds will be key players for Spain and Brazil at next summer’s World Cup, as well as leading men in their respective clubs’ charges for European glory this season. Both have 31 senior goals.

Estevao has shone for Chelsea this season

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Their meeting at Stamford Bridge should prove a fascinating chance to compare and contrast - and, frankly, just enjoy - the sumptuous talent of two players operating so far ahead of the curve for their age that it is little surprise football data experts CIES have them modelled as the two most valuable teenage footballers on the planet. Their combined value is £411million.

Yamal came second in the Ballon d’Or this year and has been a known quantity for longer than Estevao, but both have been tipped to one day win that gong. Both are enjoying excellent seasons.

Delivering the goods on nights like this goes a long way to determining when or whether a starlet becomes a superstar. If Yamal is already there, Estevao is on track to follow suit.

Estevao was the subject of serious interest from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and, sure enough, Barcelona as he turned heads with his displays for Palmeiras back in Brazil.

At Chelsea, they are celebrating their decisiveness to move in and secure his soaring potential for themselves.

Lamine Yamal is already one of the best players in the world

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Marc Cucurella has the pleasure of calling them both team-mates, and sees it that way. He plays alongside Yamal for Spain, but tonight his job is to contain the teen.

“Both of them are very special players,” Cucurella said on Monday. “They have a lot of talent, always want the ball, always try to do one-on-ones. These players can decide games.”

Chelsea have one eye on Sunday’s top-two meeting in the Premier League with Arsenal, but the challenge of hosting Barca commands full attention in a league phase where both teams have done OK but could do with more points on the board to be more confident of progressing.

From Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo to Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford, outstanding player will hardly be in short supply here. But it speaks volumes that, when searching for a touch of attacking inspiration, Barca are likely to turn towards Yamal and Chelsea are likely to look to Estevao.

Which of the mercurial young wingers fares better on the night could go a long way to deciding which way this finely-poised Champions League clash ultimately swings.