Just eight days ago, João Pedro was relaxing on a beach in Rio de Janeiro. Fast forward to now, and the Brazilian forward looks even more at home on the global stage as his stunning brace fired Chelsea into the Club World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium this Sunday.

The £60 million summer signing marked his first start for the Blues with a superb two-goal display, quickly beginning to justify his hefty price tag. Chelsea’s passage to the final has also secured them an additional £21.9 million in prize money, taking their total tournament earnings to over £60 million — and putting them within reach of the £97 million winner’s jackpot.

Pedro’s first strike will undoubtedly be considered one of the finest goals of the tournament — a sublime 20-yard effort curled into the top corner. His second, a thunderous shot off the underside of the bar, sealed the result.

While Chelsea haven’t been entirely convincing throughout the competition, their semi-final performance against Fluminense was their best to date. Benefiting from a relatively favourable draw, Enzo Maresca’s side looked composed and well-managed, with Pedro emerging as their standout performer.

Pedro’s Instant Impact
Pedro had already impressed as a substitute in the quarter-final victory over Palmeiras, turning the game in Chelsea’s favour. This time, he proved decisive from the start, essentially winning the match by himself in scorching 100-degree-plus temperatures in New York. Regular cooling breaks were required due to the conditions.

Fluminense, Chelsea’s third Brazilian opponent of the tournament, proved the least formidable, yet Maresca’s men still handled the match professionally and looked to be growing into the tournament.

The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Fluminense failed to clear their lines. The ball fell to Pedro at the edge of the box, where he calmly controlled it, picked his spot, and unleashed a rocket past 44-year-old goalkeeper Fábio. In truth, Fábio stood no chance — and likely wouldn’t have, even two decades ago.

Missed Chances and VAR Drama
As has become a concerning theme for Chelsea, they eased off after taking the lead, allowing Fluminense a route back into the game — possibly a result of the intense heat. First, Hércules nutmegged Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, only for Marc Cucurella to race back and clear the ball off the line.

The next major scare came when Thiago Santos’s header struck Trevoh Chalobah’s arm inside the box. Referee François Letexier initially awarded a penalty, but after a VAR review, reversed his decision as Chalobah’s arm was deemed to be in a natural position.

Substitute Everaldo later threatened an equaliser for Fluminense with a strong run and powerful shot, forcing a fine save from Sánchez. That moment seemed to wake Chelsea up once more.

Sealing the Win
The Blues responded with a quick transition: defending resolutely, winning the ball, and springing forward through Enzo Fernández, whose delightful pass split the defence. Pedro sprinted forward, entered the box, and rifled home his second — a sensational strike that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar.

That goal gave Chelsea the breathing space they needed. Although Pedro limped off late in the game after some robust challenges, his contribution had already secured his status as Chelsea’s latest hero.

With the final on the horizon, Pedro’s emergence as a decisive force could not have come at a better time for Maresca and his side, who will now face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid for the Club World Cup title and the record £97 million prize pot.