chelsea Young Estevao may spend this summer recovering from the injury that cost him a World Cup spot, but anyone expecting him to tone down his ambitions is clearly not listening.
The 19-year-old has spent the past few weeks discussing recovery plans, rehabilitation timelines and the disappointment of missing out on Brazil's biggest tournament.
He recently admitted that he cried Learning the severity of the injury and described the diagnosis as one of the toughest moments of his career.
Yet when the conversation turned to the future, the Chelsea player was thinking far beyond the next few months.
Estevao is setting the bar as high as possible
talking to Sports Center BrazilEstevao explained that having ambitious goals is an essential part of her mindset.
"I think it's very important for a player to have goals. I have my goals, I have my own ambitions. I have goals with the group, which is Chelsea today, and I also have personal goals," He said.
Winger explained that his approach is based on creating a path to those objectives and staying committed to it regardless of setbacks.
"It's important to focus on what you want, make your way around it and follow it. I have my own ambitions and I'm working very hard to make them come true. I don't know if it'll be possible or not, but they're there and that's the plan I'm going to follow."
Ballon d'Or dreams
When asked what exactly those ambitions are, Estevao didn't hesitate.
"My ambition is to become the best player in the world, win the Champions League and win the World Cup." He said.
This explains why Chelsea invested so heavily in one of Brazil's brightest young talents. But the teen admitted that reaching those milestones won't happen overnight.
"I'm looking for it. Day by day. Step by step. Staying flexible every day, eating well, training well, sleeping well..."
five kilos and counting
One of the recurring themes since Estevao's move to England has been adapting physically to the demands of elite European football.
The winger revealed that he has already added significant muscle during that process.
Asked how much weight he had gained, Estevao replied with a smile: "a little."
"I think it was about five kilos"He said.
When asked if it came from gym work or diet, his answer was simple: "Both."
For a player who is still only 19 years old, that development remains an important part of the bigger picture.
looking beyond failure
What stands out most from Estevao's comments is how little time he spends reflecting on despair.
Missing the World Cup was obviously a big emotional blow. He has spoken openly about this. The recovery process is still going on. He is expected to miss Chelsea's pre-season and possibly the start of the new campaign.
Nevertheless, their focus remains on objectives that extend years into the future.
"I don't know how long it will take, but these are my goals and I will do everything I can to achieve them."
For a player who is currently spending more time with physiotherapists than teammates, it's a reminder that injury has changed his timeline – not his ambitions.
