JAKARTA - Chelsea striker Joao Pedro considers his first season with the London club as something "special", but he insists he still wants to continue to improve.
"I think my first year at Chelsea was very special. I came here to help the team. I believe I have shown good performances. I am a player who always wants to improve and reach the highest level I can," Joao Pedro told UEFA, quoted by Antara on Monday, March 9.
Chelsea themselves are scheduled to face Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the 2025/26 Champions League 16-team match at the Parc des Princes on Thursday (12/3). He will be relied on again by coach Liam Rosenior to fill the Blues' front line.
The 24-year-old player stood out with Chelsea throughout the 2025/26 season. He has scored 21 goals and six assists from a total of 42 matches in all competitions.
Among the English League players this season, only Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has more goal involvement, with a total of 40 contributions (32 goals and eight assists).
Meanwhile, Joao Pedro has also scored 14 goals since the turn of the year, a number that is only behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane who has 15 goals.
Most recently, Joao Pedro helped Chelsea advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup after previously scoring a hat-trick as The Blues won 4-1 over Aston Villa in the English League.
Joao Pedro's brilliant performance this season also makes him a favorite to be Brazil's main striker at the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
However, competition in the Brazilian front line remains tight. Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison and Manchester United player Matheus Cunha are also candidates.
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