Chelsea Legend Highlights Four Traits Joao Pedro Shares with Karim Benzema After Xabi Alonso's Bold Comparison

Xabi Alonso has drawn a bold parallel between Chelsea striker Joao Pedro and former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema. The comparison has found support from Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who recently outlined four key traits that link the Brazilian forward to the renowned French goal scorer during an exclusive chat with GOAL.

The Legacy of Karim Benzema

Benzema, a Ballon d'Or winner in 2022, is widely regarded as one of the finest No.9s of his generation. He ranks alongside greats such as Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Harry Kane. His career includes 354 goals over 14 seasons at Real Madrid, where he was part of the iconic 'BBC' attack alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. Now a free agent after leaving Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, Benzema’s achievements set a high bar for any striker.

Joao Pedro’s Rise at Chelsea

Though still early in his career, the South American forward has impressed since joining Chelsea in 2025 for £60 million ($79m) from Brighton. In his first season at Stamford Bridge, he hit the 20-goal mark, signaling his potential under pressure.

What Xabi Alonso Said About Pedro

Now coached by Alonso, who once played alongside Benzema at Madrid, Pedro is earning praise. Alonso stated:

“If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that Joao is there, [Erling] Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way. He has a very strong goal this year: to have a great season, to score many goals, and to be a nominee for not just this month but more months. I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao. In many things he reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete, he is intelligent. So yes, he is still young, still things to develop, but many, many absolutely outstanding qualities that he has.”

Hasselbaink Explains Shared Qualities

Hasselbaink recognizes the similarities between the two forwards, emphasizing their technical skill and calmness in front of goal. Speaking with GOAL through MrQ, he said:

“I can understand that. I see similarities. They’re both really technical, really, really intelligent. They both can come into midfield and play. And they’re both really calm in front of the goal. So I can see similarities. Joao Pedro is not there yet. But I can see similarities.”

Current Form and Challenges at Chelsea

This season, Pedro has scored three goals but has been sidelined recently with a minor injury, which has limited his ability to support creators Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer. Chelsea’s defense has struggled, conceding 10 goals in their last four matches across all competitions, and only collecting one point in their last three Premier League games.

Chelsea’s Defensive Reinforcement with Emi Martinez

To strengthen their backline, Chelsea brought in World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5 million ($10m). Hasselbaink sees this signing as positive, noting:

“The goals haven’t stopped. But I’m very pleased that the character itself has come in. And it’s a World Cup winner. He stands there, he’s a big unit, he’s a leader. And you can’t have enough of those in your squad. So obviously, he’s not played his best football yet. That is a combination of several things. Also the people in front of him. But I’m so happy that that kind of character has come into the building.”

Looking Ahead

Alonso is expected to have Pedro back when Chelsea face Bournemouth at home on October 10. The Blues will aim to regain momentum as the season progresses, hoping to address defensive gaps and build on Pedro’s promising form.

• Next Fixture: Chelsea vs AFC Bournemouth
• Date & Time: 10 October 2026, 17:00