After completing his £60 million move to Chelsea in July, Joao Pedro would have dreamed of nights like this. Just under two weeks into his time at the club, the 24-year-old Brazilian delivered a moment to remember, scoring the winning goal as the Blues lifted the Club World Cup with a final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
That unforgettable afternoon in New Jersey felt like the perfect starting point for the former Brighton forward’s Chelsea journey. And while the season has not always been smooth, his quality was on full display once again on Wednesday night in Naples.
When Chelsea needed a hero, Joao Pedro answered the call. Although Cole Palmer will rightly earn praise for his impact, this night belonged to the Brazilian.
His stunning first goal dragged Chelsea back into the contest, but the job wasn’t finished. The Blues still needed another strike to reach the Champions League knockout stage and avoid a tricky February playoff.
With new head coach Liam Rosenior only recently replacing Enzo Maresca and having limited time on the training ground, the upcoming break will be a welcome one.
Joao Pedro’s brilliance has now handed Rosenior two free midweeks in February. After sharp build-up play from Palmer, who came on at halftime with Chelsea trailing, the £60 million forward found space and calmly rolled the ball past Alex Meret. Despite the Napoli ultras’ relentless noise, his second goal was met with a sudden silence around the stadium.
Named Player of the Match, Joao Pedro was briefly kept away from the celebrations as he fulfilled post-match media duties following the 3–2 win, while his teammates applauded the travelling fans.
Once the Napoli supporters filtered out, the Chelsea end waited—and their moment arrived. Joao Pedro made his way over to acknowledge them, and in return was greeted with loud chants of his name, sealing a night he—and the fans—will not forget.
