The showdown between Chelsea and Barcelona hinges on the battle between teenage sensations Estevao and Lamine Yamal, two of football’s most valuable young talents.
The Champions League fixture between Chelsea and Barcelona at Stamford Bridge offers a compelling glimpse into the future of football, setting the stage for a dramatic “battle of the wonderkids” between Chelsea’s Estevao and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.
The two phenomenal wingers, both 18-year-olds born just three months apart, are expected to be key players for their respective national teams, Brazil and Spain, at next summer’s World Cup.
Experts from football data firm CIES model them as the two most valuable teenage footballers on the planet, with their combined market value estimated at £411 million. Both players have already amassed 31 senior goals each.
Yamal, who came second in this year’s Ballon d’Or, is slightly more established, but Estevao is “on track to follow suit.”
Chelsea were decisive in securing Estevao’s “soaring potential” despite “serious interest” from rival European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona.
Barcelona defender Marc Cucurella commented on their immense talent, stating: “Both of them are very special players. They have a lot of talent, always want the ball, always try to do one-on-ones. These players can decide games.”
The performance of whichever player fares better is expected to determine the direction of the finely-poised clash.