Comparisons mean little to Estêvão Willian. The Brazil winger did not even take kindly to being nicknamed Messinho – “Little Messi” – earlier in his career. He called the nickname “disruptive” and made clear that he had no interest in trying to be someone else. “I don’t like comparisons,” the 18-year-old told ESPN Brasil last year. “For those who don’t know how to deal with it, it’s quite disruptive. Me being Estêvão is very good.”

Chelsea no doubt agree. After all, opposition defenders aside, who could possibly complain about Estêvão just being Estêvão? Not for nothing is he widely tipped to win the Ballon d’Or one day. The teenager’s talent is outrageous, his start to life in England has been better than expected and, although the obvious risk with heaping too much praise on a young prospect is that it makes them take their eye off the ball, it is telling that those who know Estêvão say one of the qualities that set him apart is his character.

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, does not worry about the Brazilian losing focus. For Chelsea, the concern is more about protecting Estêvão from burnout as he adjusts to the physicality of the Premier League. He has made only seven starts in all competitions since his £52m move from Palmeiras last summer and goes into his first meeting with Lamine Yamal knowing there is much to prove before he can be held in the same regard as Barcelona’s 18-year-old winger.

For all that Estêvão dislikes being compared to other players, the similarities with Lamine Yamal are striking. Both are left-footed, both play on the right and both love nothing more than taking a full-back to the cleaners. Both are devastating when they cut inside to deliver inswinging crosses or whip shots towards the far corner, but neither can be accused of being predictable. Estêvão, for instance, was at his creative best when he came on during Chelsea’s win against Wolves this month, driving down the outside and using his right foot to cut the ball back for João Pedro to score. Itwas an electrifying cameo.

Chelsea have fallen hard for Estêvão. The fans love him and Stamford Bridge erupted when he scored his first league goal in dramatic circumstances, sliding in at the far post to bag a stoppage-time winner against Liverpool last month. This is clearly a player with an eye for the spectacular, which is why Maresca may trust him to start when Barcelona visit in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Estêvão was Chelsea’s stoppage time hero when he popped up to score the winner against Liverpool. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Do not expect Estêvão, who has four goals for Chelsea so far, to be overawed. He is already a starter for Brazil – he scored twice for his country during this month’s international break – and would be making his 100th appearance at club level if he plays against Barça.

However, it is worth remembering that Estêvão has not had as much exposure to elite competition as Lamine Yamal, despite being three months older than the Spaniard. Chelsea have not been in a rush. They agreed their deal with Palmeiras in May 2024 but allowed Estêvão to stay with the Brazilian club for another year and represent them at the Club World Cup last summer, meaning much of his football has been played in South America, where the competition is fierce but still not as demanding as in Europe.

Lamine Yamal, by contrast, has been competing at the very top since the start. He turned 17 a day before he helped Spain to beat England in the Euro 2024 final, played a starring role in Barcelona winning La Liga last season and finished second to Ousmane Dembélé in the Ballon d’Or this year.

“Both of them are very special players,” said Marc Cucurella, who plays with Estêvão at club level and Lamine Yamal for Spain. “They always want the ball. The only difference is that Lamine has been playing in Europe for maybe two or three seasons and Estêvão arrived this season – but he’s doing really well. If he continues improving he can be at Lamine’s level.”

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Estêvão, seen here during a training session on Monday, has already given the Premier League a taste of what he can do. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

There is perhaps more depth to Lamine Yamal’s game at the moment. The dribbles are more inventive, more bewitching, and there are times when his crosses and passing defy logic. Chelsea, though, see Estêvão developing into a playmaker capable of operating as a No 10 and will also note that there have been questions about Lamine Yamal’s behaviour away from the pitch this season. Cucurella touched on that, saying there may have been hints of the Barça star “perhaps being a little more distracted”.

There was, of course, controversy around Lamine Yamal withdrawing from the Spain squad this month. Injuries have taken a toll. A groin problem has troubled Lamine Yamal, although he looked back to his best when he produced two assists during Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Athletic Bilbao last Saturday.

It falls to Cucurella to keep his international teammate quiet on Tuesday night. It is a tall order but Chelsea will back themselves. Barcelona are brilliant in attack but they give up chances and drew 3-3 with Club Brugge in their previous Champions League game. Maresca, who said Cole Palmer is back in training as he recovers from a broken toe, will think about how to target the Spanish side’s high line.

Making use of Estêvão’s wizardry on the right is one way to go. Chelsea will back him to outshine Lamine Yamal. The background checks were thorough when they were scouting him. They loved his talent but they also loved the youngster’s family. Estêvão, the son of a pastor, has been brought up well. It is why he does not care too much about measuring himself against others.