Like Benzema & as good as Haaland - Alonso on Joao Pedro
September 11, 2026 21:30
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has likened striker João Pedro to both Karim Benzema in style and, in terms of standing among Premier League forwards, to Erling Haaland. Alonso said he would rate João Pedro alongside the league's top strikers after the Brazil international began the campaign with two goals and two assists in his first three matches and earned the Premier League Player of the Month award.
João Pedro recently signed a contract extension keeping him at Stamford Bridge until 2034, was given the club's number nine shirt, and has accumulated 25 goals and 11 assists in 57 appearances for Chelsea since joining last summer. He was left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad but has been recalled for September internationals against New Zealand and India.
KEY CONTEXT
- Alonso played 195 times alongside Benzema at Real Madrid, giving him first‑hand familiarity with the forward he used as a stylistic reference.
- João Pedro is a more versatile attacker than Haaland, having operated as a midfielder, a number 10 and a winger during his career, whereas Haaland is characterised in the source as a specialist goalscorer.
- João Pedro became Chelsea’s first striker since Diego Costa to reach 20 goals in a single season during his debut campaign for the club.
WHY IT MATTERS
Alonso’s public comparison elevates João Pedro’s profile by placing him among the Premier League’s elite forwards. The new long‑term deal and the number nine shirt underline Chelsea’s commitment to him, while his recent form and season‑one scoring milestone provide measurable proof of his impact. His international recall also signals renewed recognition at national team level after the World Cup omission noted in the source.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether João Pedro can sustain his early‑season scoring and creative output across the campaign, a stated objective Alonso highlighted.
- How his role at Chelsea develops given his positional versatility compared with specialist strikers.
- His performances in the upcoming September internationals against New Zealand and India following his recall.
KEY FACTS
- João Pedro has 25 goals and 11 assists in 57 Chelsea appearances since joining last summer.
- He scored 20+ goals in a single season for Chelsea, the first Blues striker to do so since Diego Costa.
- He signed a contract extension tying him to Chelsea until 2034 and was given the number nine shirt.
- Alonso compared João Pedro’s style to Karim Benzema and said he would rate him among the Premier League’s top strikers alongside Erling Haaland.
- In their last 57 matches for Manchester City, Erling Haaland recorded 42 goals and nine assists; Benzema has 523 goals in 994 career appearances and is a free agent at 38 (facts cited in the source).
- João Pedro was omitted from Brazil’s World Cup squad but has been recalled for September fixtures against New Zealand and India.