Chelsea’s youngster impresses on Brazil’s national team duty

Chelsea fans were offered a glimpse of what to expect when Brazilian teenager and winger Estêvão Willian made his national team debut on Saturday as Brazil faced and defeated Ecuador in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Brazilians.

Chelsea announced the signing of Estêvão Willian on 22 June 2024, stating that he will move to the Premier League club in the summer of 2025 when he turns eighteen. The deal was completed for around a €34 million fee, which included €23 million in performance-based incentives.

Estêvão Willian was a second-half substitute in the victory at Couto Pereira, becoming the second-youngest player in history, after Endrick, to debut for Brazil since 2000 at the age of 17 years and 142 days. Real Madrid’s Endrick debuted at the age of 17 years and 118 days; it was therefore not a surprise that the emotional Estêvão dedicated the feat to God after the game.

“There are no explanations; it’s only God; all honor and glory be given to God. A day marked for the rest of my life, very happy to make my debut with the heaviest shirt in the world, only agent to God and my family.” Estevao said.

Brazil got their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers back on track with their 1-0 victory over Ecuador thanks to a 30-minute strike from Real Madrid frontman Rodrygo. The five-time world champions will travel to Paraguay on Tuesday for their next FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Brazil currently sits in fourth place with ten points from seven games, three points behind third-placed Colombia, who drew 1-1 with Peru at the weekend. Brazil has three wins, one draw, and three losses from seven 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played so far. They will also face Chile and Peru in October.