Palmeiras Player Suffers Altitude Sickness During Birthday Celebration

Estêvão’s Birthday Turns Unforgettable Amidst Copa Libertadores Victory

Estêvão’s 18th birthday was one to remember, not just for the celebration, but for his performance on the pitch. The young forward marked the occasion by scoring a crucial goal for Palmeiras in their Copa Libertadores clash against Bolivar. His contribution helped shift momentum in a tightly contested match, giving his team a significant boost before the break.

 Striker’s Health Deteriorates at La Paz’s High Altitude

Despite the goal and strong first-half showing, Estêvão struggled with the intense altitude in La Paz, which sits at 3,650 meters above sea level. The effects became evident early in the second half, when he vomited on the field and appeared visibly unwell. Eventually, he was unable to continue and had to be stretchered off around the 60-minute mark.

Mauricio Scores Winner in Estêvão’s Absence, Securing Palmeiras’ Third Win

“This is my first time playing at this altitude. I was already feeling unwell at halftime and unfortunately couldn’t continue the game,” said Estêvão.

“This is the best birthday present, an important away victory. Our team is amazing and deserves these results,” he added.

His replacement, Mauricio, scored the decisive goal that sealed a 3-2 win — marking Palmeiras’ third straight victory in Group G. Estêvão, who will join Chelsea later this year for around £29 million, showed his potential despite the physical toll of the high-altitude match.