Chelsea replace Joao Pedro with immediate prize after Ancelotti shock

English club Chelsea announced on Tuesday that their Brazilian striker Joao Pedro had been awarded the Blues’ player of the season for the 2025-2026 season, in a small consolation for the player after he suffered a major shock on Monday when he was left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.

Overwhelming voting superiority

Pedro ultimately won the award with over 60% of the vote, ahead of Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo, who finished second and third respectively.

The 24-year-old Brazilian scored 20 goals and provided nine assists in 49 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea in his first season with Chelsea, becoming only the eleventh player in the club’s history to achieve the feat in his first season in the Premier League.

Sudden withdrawal from the World Cup

But despite his exceptional performance, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti did not include Pedro in the Seleção’s World Cup squad, a decision that greatly baffled the player currently rated as Brazil’s best No.9 striker.

The former Brighton man fell short of Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Andric and Ryan in Ancelotti’s options, despite being statistically superior to them.

However, Pedro is still a likely candidate to join the roster if a player is missing.