Estevao Willian wins two awards after missing out on Brasileiro title

The future Chelsea arrival completed his first senior campaign with Palmeiras on Sunday night as his team missed out on the league title.

On an occasion when Palmeiras needed to beat Fluminense and hope that Botafogo lost to Sao Paulo, Estevao was powerless to prevent his side losing 1-0 to Thiago Silva's relegation-threatened side.

While the 17-year-old was naturally disappointed with the outcome of the title race, he was still rewarded for his breakthrough season.

Double recognition for Estevao

Estevao ended the league season with a magnificent 13 goals and nine assists from his 31 appearances in Serie A.

That return already represented the first time that anyone aged 17 or under had amassed more than 18 goals or assist in a Brazilian top-flight campaign.

Having extended that record to 22, the starlet has inevitably been rewarded for his efforts throughout the calendar year.

Inevitably, Estevao has been named as the Breakthrough Player of the Year on the back of the aforementioned record and numbers.

Furthermore, the teenager has been awarded the Best Striker accolade having finished as third top goalscorer in the division despite largely featuring on the right flank.

He also had a direct hand in more than a third of Palmeiras' 60 goals in the Brasileiro. The only players to score more times than Estevao were Corinthians' Yuri Alberto and Vitoria's Alerrandro.

How did Estevao react to title disappointment?

Although Estevao was happy to receive two such awards, he acknowledged after the defeat to Fluminense that the title would have been far more significant.

The Brazil international told reporters: "There is a void in my chest, the most important thing was the title.

"We failed at a time when we couldn't...we lacked efficiency. We couldn't come away with the victory, we gave our all."

Estevao will now spend a short period with Chelsea to help with his future acclimatisation ahead of his transfer in July 2025.

Written by

Darren Plant