August 23, 2024 11:59 AM EST
Chelsea-bound teenager Estevan Willian has been selected in Brazil's squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay.
Estevan, 17, was promoted from the under-17 team following some solid performances for Palmeiras.
Brazil will host Ecuador in Curitiba on September 6 before playing Paraguay in Asuncion four days later.
Estevan, nicknamed “Messinho” by fans, is due to move from Palmeiras to Chelsea on a permanent basis in 2025 once he turns 18.
Brazil coach Dorival Junior said Botafogo's uncapped pair of Estevan and Luis Enrique had seized their opportunity.
“They are players of the highest level and their performances on the pitch made them well deserved,” he said.
Estevan said the news was a “moment of great happiness” for him and his family.
“I barely slept last night. It's a dream come true again,” he said.
Real Madrid's attacking trio Vinicius Junior, Endrik and Rodrygo, who featured in the recent Copa America, are also included in the 23-man squad.
Chelsea-bound teenager Estevan was called up to the Brazil national team for the first time on Friday (Photo: Marco Galvao/Eurasia Sports Images/Getty Images)
Al-Hilal forward Neymar is still unavailable as he recovers from a serious knee injury sustained last October.
“He's a very important, fundamental, decisive and different player,” Dorival said of Brazil's all-time leading scorer Neymar. “Everyone knows that.”
“He's not fully back yet, but I'm sure he'll be back when he recovers. But everything has to happen at the right time.”
Brazil went into the qualifiers under pressure, winning just two of their six matches and losing the other three to finish in sixth place, a result that led to Dorival being appointed manager in January.
However, Dorival came under criticism after Brazil's Copa America quarter-final defeat to Uruguay.
Brazil failed to impress, winning just one group game and losing 4-2 to 10-man Uruguay after a scoreless draw on penalties.
“This is a crucial and important moment for our goals,” Dorival said. “It's not a positive moment for the tournament, but I really believe in the work that's been done in the Copa America.”
“Obviously there was bitterness about what we could have achieved, but we have already shown our worth in very important matches against teams that reached the final at the last European Championships (Spain and England). Brazilians need to respect the process more.”
Brazil:
Alisson Becker (Liverpool), Bento (Athletico Paranaense), Ederson (Manchester City), Danilo (Juventus), Jan Couto (Borussia Dortmund), Guilherme Arana (Club Atlético-MG), Wendel (FC Porto), Lucas Berardo (PSG), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG); André (Fluminense), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Gerson (Flamengo), João Gomes (Wolverhampton), Paqueta (West Ham). Rodrigo (Real Madrid), Endric (Real Madrid), Esteban (Palmeiras), Luis Enrique (Botafogo), Pedro (Flamengo), Sabinho (Manchester City) and Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
