Tunisia head coach Sami Trabelsi believes Brazil youngster Estevao Willian can win the prestigious Ballon d’Or award in the coming years.
The African side face-off against the five-time world champions in an international friendly match on Tuesday night, with the young forward expected to play a key role in the clash.
The Chelsea winger delivered a player-of-the-match performance in his last outing in Selecao’s 2-0 win over Senegal last Saturday, adding to his growing list of exceptional displays for club and country.
The 18-year-old joined the Blues from Palmeiras in the summer and has become an important member of the squad, including scoring four times for the Blues in all competitions this season and three times in his last three games for Brazil.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Trabelsi acknowledged the quality of the 18-year-old and tipped him to claim the ballon d’Or in the future.
“I think he’s a new football genius emerging, very young. Ithink he’s doing very well and he’s a player who can be expected to be among the greats, among the best in the world, certainly, in the coming years”, Trabelsi said.
“If he manages to have good performances or win titles, whether with his club or national team, he will be among the players who, in the coming years, could even compete for the Ballon d’Or.”
Estevao and Casemiro scored for Brazil as they recorded a 2-0 win over Senegal in their last outing as they continue preparations for next year’s FIFA World Cup.
Tunisia, on the other hand, recorded a 3-2 win over Jordan, who were reduced to ten in the 52nd minute, last Friday.
“He brings many solutions, a lot of technique, a lot of genius”, the Tunisia coach added.
“There aren’t many players of that level, of that category of genius, on the world stage.”
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy plays host to the exciting clash between Brazil and Tunisia on Tuesday night, with kickoff scheduled for 8:30 PM.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
