17-year-old Estevao gets debut call-up to Brazil’s national team for World Cup 2026 qualifiers

Estevao scored five goals and added five assists in 19 Brazilian league matches this year while exhibiting some eye-catching dribbling skills.

Palmeiras’ forward Estevao Willian reacts during the Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg all-Brazilian football match between Palmeiras and Botafogo at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on August 21, 2024. | Photo Credit: AFP

Seventeen-year-old striker Estevao, who is set to join Chelsea next year from Palmeiras, was handed his first call-up to Brazil’s national team Friday by coach Dorival Junior for two upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Veteran forward Neymar remains out as he completes his recovery from an ACL injury he sustained last year, but Estevao has already been tipped by some to become the next big Brazilian star. He could make his debut for the national team against Ecuador on September 6, with Brazil then travelling to Paraguay four days later.

Brazil is only in sixth place in South American qualifying after six games.

Estevao scored five goals and added five assists in 19 Brazilian league matches this year while exhibiting some eye-catching dribbling skills.

Dorival Junior, who took over as Brazil’s coach at the start of the year, left out eight players who were part of Brazil’s squad in this summer’s Copa America tournament. His team was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Uruguay.

Brazil squad

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City).

Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Yan Couto (Borussia Dortmund), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Wendell (Porto), Beraldo, Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).

Midfielders: André (Fluminense), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham).

Strikers; Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Endrick (Real Madrid), Vinicius Júnior (Real Madrid), Estêvão (Palmeiras), Luiz Henrique (Botafogo), Pedro (Flamengo), Savinho (Manchester City).