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

Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, recently made a striking claim, suggesting that Joao Pedro bears similarities to the former Real Madrid star and Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema. This bold statement has received support from ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who identified four key qualities the Brazilian forward shares with the French legend.

Benzema’s Legendary Career and Pedro’s Rising Star

Karim Benzema is often regarded as one of the finest strikers of his generation. With 354 goals in 14 seasons at Real Madrid, he was part of the famous 'BBC' trio alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. His status among elite forwards like Robert Lewandowski, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero, and Harry Kane is undisputed. Benzema became a free agent after departing Saudi Pro League’s Al-Hilal and won the Ballon d’Or in 2022.

Joao Pedro, having joined Chelsea in 2025 from Brighton for £60 million ($79 million), still has a long road ahead but impressed in his first season by reaching the 20-goal mark at Stamford Bridge.

What Xabi Alonso Sees in Pedro

"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."

Four Qualities Hasselbaink Sees in Both Forwards

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink echoed Alonso’s views while speaking to GOAL in partnership with MrQ. He highlighted:

• Technical ability: Both players display high skill levels on the ball.
• Intelligence: They read the game well and adapt their play accordingly.
• Midfield involvement: Each can drop back to help build attacks.
• Calmness in front of goal: They maintain composure when finishing chances.

Hasselbaink acknowledged Pedro hasn’t yet reached Benzema’s level but sees clear signs of potential.

Chelsea’s Current Season and Defensive Challenges

Pedro has scored three goals so far in the current campaign but has been sidelined recently due to a minor injury. His absence has affected Chelsea’s attacking flow alongside Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer.

The Blues have struggled defensively, conceding 10 goals over their last four matches across all competitions and earning just one point in their last three Premier League games. To strengthen their defense, Chelsea signed World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez from Aston Villa for £7.5 million ($10 million).

"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." - Hasselbaink

Looking Ahead

Chelsea hope to have Joao Pedro back in action when they host AFC Bournemouth on October 10, aiming to regain momentum as the Premier League season continues.

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