Brazil assistant coach Davide Ancelotti has tipped Chelsea’s 18-year-old winger Estevao Willian to be the surprise package at the summer’s World Cup.
Former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid assistant manager Ancelotti will be part of his father Carlo’s Brazil coaching staff at the tournament taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July.
“The guy that will surprise you is someone that is not so well known,” Ancelotti told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Euro Leagues podcast.
“We have a lot of attacking players. We have a lot of talent and a lot of different profiles. And if I have to give you a name, Estevao is one of the rising talents of Brazil.”
The highly rated teenager has scored eight goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances for Chelsea after joining from Palmeiras last summer for an initial fee of £29m, agreed in 2024.
Estevao missed Brazil’s recent friendlies against France and Croatia having only returned from a hamstring injury for Chelsea against Everton right before the international break on 21 March.
But he was on the scoresheet in Chelsea’s 7-0 win against Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-final last weekend.
“He is a really big talent,” said Ancelotti of Estevao, who made his Brazil debut at the age of 17 in September 2024 and has five goals in 11 caps.
“He is a really good finisher, so he is someone that can dominate in Europe as a talent for the next years.
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