VIDEO: Joao Pedro opens Chelsea account in stunning style with brilliant brace against former club Fluminense at Club World Cup

Fluminense FC v Chelsea FC: Semi Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Joao Pedro wasted no time making an impact at Chelsea, scoring a stunning brace on his first start in their Club World Cup semi-final clash against Fluminense. The Brazilian forward, who spent his formative football years with the Rio-based club, showed both class and composure with a curling strike from outside the box, and followed up with a superb drive from 18 yards.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The goal was the result of excellent build-up play down the left flank, with Pedro Neto stretching the Fluminense defence. The ball eventually found its way to Pedro, stationed just inside the left corner of the penalty area. Taking a quick touch to shift the ball onto his favoured right foot, the 23-year-old unleashed a curling effort that soared past a diving Fabio and nestled into the far side of the netting. It was a moment of pure technical brilliance, met with silence from the scorer, who scored again in the second half, smashing an effort into the roof of the net after a mazy dribble.

WATCH THE CLIP

18' João Pedro, are you serious?! ⚽💥First start, first goal, and it’s against his old club! Chelsea 1-0Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLUCHE pic.twitter.com/FCGpBnlBnc— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) July 8, 2025

18' João Pedro, are you serious?! ⚽💥First start, first goal, and it’s against his old club! Chelsea 1-0Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLUCHE pic.twitter.com/FCGpBnlBnc

56' JOÃO PEDRO HAS DONE IT AGAIN! ⚽️⚽️A brace in his first @ChelseaFC start, two absolute bangers. The Brazilian wonderkid is making serious noise. 💫🇧🇷Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every Game | Free | https://t.co/i0K4eUtwwb | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #FLUCHE pic.twitter.com/ornUPa0dUe

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Pedro had only completed his £60 million ($81.5m) move to Chelsea less than a fortnight ago and joined up with the squad in the United States earlier than planned, cutting his summer holiday short to be ready for the tournament. His decision to integrate quickly is already paying dividends for the Blues.

Joao Pedro Chelsea

WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

If Chelsea manage to knock out Fluminense, they will face the winner between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid in the summit clash on July 13.