Rosenior Believes Chelsea's Joao Pedro Could Become 'One of the Best Strikers in World Football'

The Chelsea interim manager is impressed with the Brazilian's recent form and believes he can reach new heights if he maintains his current level of play.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 8:23am

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Chelsea interim manager Liam Rosenior believes that Joao Pedro, who arrived at the club last summer from Brighton, could become "one of the best strikers in world football" if he continues his current trajectory. Rosenior praised Pedro's form since he took over in January, with the 24-year-old Brazilian scoring six goals and providing one assist, while also winning three penalties. Rosenior believes the "true test" for Pedro is whether he can maintain this level of intensity and quality.

Why it matters

Joao Pedro's development is crucial for Chelsea as they look to rebuild and return to the top of the Premier League. If he can fulfill Rosenior's prediction and become one of the world's elite strikers, it would be a major boost for the club both on the pitch and in the transfer market.

The details

Pedro arrived at Chelsea last summer from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60m, and he hit the ground running at the Club World Cup, scoring in both the semi-final and final. He went through a difficult spell towards the end of the year, but since Rosenior took over in January, he has looked rejuvenated, matching his tally of 10 league goals from last season at Brighton. Rosenior believes Pedro has the potential to reach new heights if he can maintain his current level of performance.

  • Joao Pedro arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2022.
  • Rosenior took over as Chelsea's interim manager in January 2023.

The players

Joao Pedro

A 24-year-old Brazilian striker who joined Chelsea from Brighton in a deal worth up to £60m in the summer of 2022.

Liam Rosenior

The current interim manager of Chelsea, who took over the role in January 2023.

Cole Palmer

A Chelsea player who has spoken about enjoying playing with Joao Pedro and forming an exciting partnership with him.

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What they’re saying

“For Joao, he's had real rhythm. I've asked him to do different things and he's taken it on board and he's put it into practice. He's been outstanding. The true test for Joao now is that the exciting thing for him is if he can maintain this level of intensity, if he can maintain this level of quality, and the quality's never been in doubt, he could be one of the best strikers in world football. I truly believe that, but it's a possibility at the moment, if he maintains that level.”

— Liam Rosenior, Chelsea Interim Manager

What’s next

Chelsea will be hoping to see more of the Joao Pedro-Cole Palmer partnership as they host Burnley at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The takeaway

Joao Pedro's development is crucial for Chelsea's future, and if he can maintain the high level of performance that he has shown since Liam Rosenior took over, he has the potential to become one of the best strikers in world football.