One of Estevao's first chapters began on a dirt pitch in the interior of Brazil, about 250 miles (400km) from Sao Paulo.
In the city of Franca, a three-year-old Estevao was already trying to join a local football school.
The problem was that the youngest age group started at five. His father, Ivo Goncalves, asked the owner for a chance – and that was how Sergio Freitas, known as Serginho, gave Estevao the first football opportunity of his life.
Chelsea fans have been saying much the same ever since Estevao, now 18, arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
From the start, Estevao attracted attention – and discomfort.
"Stop being a coward and take Estevao off, it's not fair," rival parents would complain.
"He was far superior to the others. So we took him off so it didn't look bad for the other children. Then we moved him up an age group, under-nine, under-11, and he stood out just the same," said Adair Junior, one of his first coaches and better known as Juninho.
Self-imposed pressure has always been part of who he is. After training, he stayed behind working on fundamentals with his father, a former goalkeeper for a local team.
"Ivo was a goalkeeper, but he always struck the ball really well and demanded the same from Estevao," recalled Serginho.
"And Estevao has always been a perfectionist. They'd hang a bib in the top corner of the goal and tell him he had five shots to knock it down. Until he did, he wouldn't stop, even if we asked him to."
The 'terrao' – essentially a dirt pitch – where he grew up completed his football education.
His tight control was a skill also shaped against the first 'defender' he ever faced – a rottweiler.
"Estevao would play with the ball, the dog tried to get it, and he'd keep dribbling past the dog," said Serginho.
"Try playing with a dog – it'll take the ball off your feet."
Read the full story of Estevao’s journey to the top
