Joao Pedro Makes Dream Start as Chelsea Eye Club World Cup Glory

Joao Pedro Makes Dream Start as Chelsea Eye Club World Cup Glory

Chelsea may already boast a wealth of attacking talent, but Joao Pedro has wasted no time making his presence felt – potentially pulling ahead of his fellow forwards just in time for Sunday’s Club World Cup final.

The Brazilian striker, who signed from Brighton last week, is now one of 19 forwards brought in under Chelsea’s American ownership, which has spent a staggering £600 million on attacking reinforcements since taking over in 2022.

After a brief debut in Saturday’s quarter-final win over Palmeiras, Pedro earned his first start in the semi-final against Fluminense – his boyhood club – and delivered a memorable performance with two sensational goals on either side of half-time.

His first came just 18 minutes in, when he latched onto a half-cleared cross at the edge of the box, took a single touch, and rifled a fierce drive past 44-year-old keeper Fabio into the far corner. It was a statement opener.

The second was just as impressive. Eleven minutes into the second half, Pedro latched onto a defence-splitting pass from Enzo Fernandez near the halfway line, surged into the penalty area, and smashed a right-footed effort in off the crossbar – a goal of real quality and composure.

With Chelsea guaranteed a £21.9 million payout for reaching the final – where they’ll face either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain – Pedro has already paid back a significant chunk of his transfer fee through his early impact.

“It was a dream,” Pedro told DAZN after the match. “I don’t think it could have gone any better. I’m happy to have scored my first goals. [Winning the Club World Cup] would be my first title too. I only arrived a week ago, and now I’m heading into the final.”

Could Joao Pedro Be the Answer to Chelsea’s Striker Woes?

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca hasn’t hesitated to strengthen his forward line this summer, signing Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund, Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, and Brazilian prodigy Estevao Willian from Palmeiras – alongside Pedro.

The 22-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge after scoring 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton, having previously impressed at Watford. He’s expected to compete for roles in both the number nine and ten positions – and based on this performance, he's already staking a strong claim.

Pedro made the most of his full debut at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, scoring with both of his shots on target and registering three attempts overall – a tally matched only by Christopher Nkunku. No other Chelsea player had more shots on target.

Beyond his goals, Pedro provided a crucial focal point up front. He competed in nine duels and four aerial battles before being substituted on the hour mark for Nicolas Jackson. Only Moises Caicedo and Nkunku (who both played longer) contested more duels, while Marc Cucurella and Trevoh Chalobah were the only ones to match his aerial efforts.

Praise from the Pundits

“It wasn’t just the goals,” said former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale on DAZN. “It was the link-up play, the vision, the passing – a great all-round performance. This is the next step in his career, and he’s on the right path. You can see the ability, and hopefully, he keeps building on this.”

England striker Callum Wilson added: “He’s clearly a confident player, but to make such an immediate impact is huge. He’s hit the ground running – exactly what you want at a new club.”