Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Na July 4, 2025, na Lincoln Financial Field, we go see big match wey involve Palmeiras and Chelsea for the quarterfinals of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Na wetin people dey call ‘final countdown’ for one rising star, Estevão.
This 18-year-old left-footed forward don shine well for Palmeiras, and soon e go don dey wear Chelsea jersey as dem don already sign am to join the London club next season. Funny enough, this game na his last chance to play for Palmeiras before hin waka go Chelsea. (Na wah, wetin dem dey talk? ‘No be your fault, na your destiny!’)
Palmeiras just come off fresh victory, when dem use small goal take beat Botafogo 1-0, and Estevão perform solid for second half. Chelsea sef no dey slack as dem just finish Benfica for their last match with 4-1 after wetin people talk say na like thunderstorm wey scatter the whole match for two hours before extra time gree come start. (Na wetin we call wahala, but dem still manage shine for that one!)
As Estevão dey prepare for this match wey fit be turning point for im career, e don talk say e dey feel some kind nerves about di whole wahala wey dey happen for im life. Coach Abel Ferreira see di matter well, and e don come out to talk say make we no judge di boy too harshly. E go use im mouth defend Estevão say, “E just dey honest about im feelings. E no easy for this pikin!”
Ferreira no shy from keeping it real with di media as e quarreled say dem dey quick to sensationalize di whole matter instead of givin di boy some empathy. “Dis no dey fair. Di one time di boy talk wetin dey vex am, na so dem blow am out of proportion,” e yarn as di crowd just dey look am. (E get as e be, na wah!)
The pressure dey high now on Estevão, because if e perform well, he go catapult himsef into Chelsea fandom with sweet hype. But if hin squad get knocked out, people go dey look am like say na him fault. No be easy matter o! Na one match, two teams, and one spotlight on di boy wey dey ready to cross ocean for change of environment.
This na not just about football; na true life soap opera wey dey unfold as di young talent wey don rise through di ranks for Palmeiras dey face something wey dey pass ball. Di world go dey watch as Estevão wey sabi play to gain ground make im destiny follow dem carry am go London.
