Joao Pedro came back to haunt his boyhood club Fluminense, scoring a sensational brace to steer Chelsea into the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 final at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday. The 23-year-old striker, who rose through the Fluminense youth ranks, delivered a performance of ruthless brilliance to secure a 2-0 semi-final win and book a showdown with either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
Pedro struck in each half, with both goals showcasing his precision, power, and poise. His opener came in the 18th minute — a curling 20-yard effort into the far corner after a turnover in midfield and a failed clearance from former Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva.
The Brazilian added a second 11 minutes into the second half, bursting past Ignacio before smashing the ball in off the crossbar from the edge of the area. Both goals were greeted with muted celebrations — the striker raising his hands in a gesture of respect toward the club that nurtured him.
“It was special, but emotional too,” Pedro said after the match. “Fluminense gave me everything. But tonight, I had to do my job for Chelsea.”
The Blues, under new head coach Enzo Maresca, started sharply and dictated possession early. Their pressure paid off when Pedro Neto and Pedro pressed Fluminense high up the pitch to create the opening for the first goal.
Despite the setback, Fluminense responded with spirit. Hercules nearly levelled after slipping behind the Chelsea defence, only for Marc Cucurella to make a vital clearance off the line. Minutes later, the Brazilians were briefly awarded a penalty for handball against Trevoh Chalobah — but VAR overturned the decision, judging the defender’s hand position to be natural.
The second half belonged entirely to Chelsea. Once Pedro doubled the lead with his thunderous strike on 56 minutes, there was little doubt about the outcome.
Chelsea could have added more. Christopher Nkunku saw a shot cleared off the line, and Nicolas Jackson fired into the side netting with Cole Palmer waiting unmarked.
But the damage had been done, and Maresca’s men now stand one win away from global glory. The final, scheduled for Sunday at MetLife, promises an all-European clash, with Chelsea awaiting the outcome of Thursday’s semi-final between Real Madrid and PSG.
“Joao was incredible tonight,” Maresca said post-match. “To do what he did — and to do it with such humility against his former club — speaks volumes. We’re proud of the whole team.”
Chelsea, who last lifted the Club World Cup in 2021, will now hope to reclaim the global crown and cap off their American summer with silverware.
