Estêvão at risk of missing the World Cup after serious thigh injury.

A little over 50 days before the World Cup kicks off, Brazil is facing a new drama that threatens to undermine its aspirations for glory. Estêvão, the 18-year-old rising star from Chelsea and one of the brightest prospects for the national team, suffered a serious thigh injury during the recent match against Manchester United, casting a dark shadow over his participation in the most anticipated tournament in football.

In a game played at the iconic Stamford Bridge, Estêvão was forced to leave the pitch in tears, visibly in pain. Chelsea’s manager, Liam Rosenior, did not hide his concern: “He left the field crying; it was a difficult moment for all of us.” Medical confirmation came swiftly: a grade 4 injury to the hamstring, which not only rules him out of the next match but also puts his presence in the World Cup in doubt.

This type of injury is widely recognized as one of the most complex in football, requiring a recovery time that can exceed two months, which dangerously coincides with the proximity of the Brazilian team’s opening game against Morocco, scheduled to take place in New Jersey. The absence of Estêvão, who was already a key player for Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea, represents a significant blow to Tite’s squad, which sees its attacking line weakened at a crucial moment.

But the Brazilian drama does not end here. In March, Rodrygo suffered a severe rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral meniscus in his right knee during a match for Real Madrid, sidelining him definitively from the World Cup. With these two significant absences, the national team is forced to reformulate strategies and seek alternatives to maintain the balance and quality of its attack.

The news of Estêvão’s injury arrives at a time when Brazil was preparing to enter the World Cup with a strong and renewed squad, capable of challenging the top contenders. Now, the country of football faces a true storm, where the recovery of the young Chelsea talent is a race against time that could determine the team’s fate in the competition.

With the countdown accelerating, it remains to be seen whether Estêvão will be able to surprise and return in time or if he will be yet another painful absence that the national team will have to endure on this journey towards the world title. The pressure is mounting, and the eyes of millions of fans will now be focused not only on the talent on the field but also on the ability of these young prodigies to overcome the weight of national hopes on their shoulders.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.