Palmeiras' Estevao Celebrates 18th Birthday with Goal, Leaves Game Due to Altitude

Palmeiras' Estevao scores goal on 18th birthday but gets carried off field due to high altitude in La Paz. 

Palmeiras forward Estevao turned 18 on Thursday and celebrated with a goal in his team's Copa Libertadores win over Bolivar. He scored the second goal in a 3-2 victory, doubling Palmeiras' lead just before halftime.

Estevão Willian left the pitch on a stretcher. Hopefully not a serious injury 😥😰 pic.twitter.com/lfVgvoYvAU

— 💥 BlueCo Xtra (@Bluecoxtra) April 24, 2025

However, the high altitude of La Paz took its toll on the young player. Estevao showed signs of fatigue before the break and struggled in the second half, eventually falling to the ground and vomiting. He was carried off the field on a stretcher around the hour mark.

After being substituted, Estevao remained unwell on the bench, receiving medication from the Palmeiras medical staff during the match. The high elevation of 3,650 meters clearly took a toll on him. In a post-match interview with Paramount+, Estevao explained, “It took me a while to get used to it, and unfortunately, I couldn't continue. It was really a matter of the altitude. It's surreal here.”

Despite his early exit, Palmeiras secured a 3-2 win, thanks in part to Estevao's replacement, Mauricio, who scored the winning goal. This victory marked Palmeiras' third win in as many games in Group G. Notably, Estevao has already committed to joining Chelsea later in 2025, following a reported transfer deal worth £29 million.