Chelsea youngster Estêvão has insisted he’s never encouraged any comparisons to Lionel Messi or his ‘Messinho’ nickname and wants to get rid of it completely before too long.
The 17-year-old has been speaking to Placar about various subjects, which also meant a conversation on comparisons to the Argentine legend.
Estêvão is one of the hottest youngsters in world football at this moment in time, with many expecting big things from in the years to come.
He already has 11 goals and eight assists in 38 games for Palmeiras and made two appearances for the Brazilian national team against Ecuador and Paraguay in September.
Chelsea moved to secure his signature earlier this year, with the player set to move to Stamford Bridge in a €24m deal on July 1st next year.
In the meantime, the hype around him continues to build, with the youngster nicknamed ‘Messinho’, or ‘Little Messi’ from the minute he appeared on the scene. That, though, is a moniker he is not comfortable with and wants to completely eradicate if he can.
“It wasn’t even me who created this [of Messinho], it was the media,” he said.
“And it’s something I didn’t like to be honest. One thing I try is to be me. I’m Estêvão, I’m building my career, my football and my story. I’m very happy for the recognition, but it’s something I didn’t like.
“I’m trying to detach myself from this more and more. There has already been a lot of disconnection, and I hope this ends once and for all.”
While he may not be happy with comparisons to a great like Messi, that does not mean the youngster is lacking in confidence.
Far from it, the 17-year-old has already demonstrated with his performances on the pitch that he is a player for whom self confidence won’t ever be a problem.
The incoming Chelsea man is happy to admit as much, explaining that his ultimate aim is to become the best player int the world.
“I owe more of this [self-confidence] to my father,” he added.
“He is a person who is always with you, but who won’t always just support you, won’t always open his arms… he will also demand the most. Not just my father, but my entire family. And I think that evolving more and more comes a lot from that.
“I know my potential, I know that I can do even more and, of course, we are slowly looking for it. I think I have the potential to be my best self. And the best thing for me, God willing, is to be at the World Cup and be the best in the world. I think that depends a lot on me.”
