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Chelsea have officially announced Joao Pedro as their Player of the Season, following a commanding win in the fan vote. The recognition comes only a few hours after the Brazilian forward was left out of his country’s World Cup squad, giving the award a bittersweet tone for the 24-year-old.

Joao Pedro claims top club honour after missing Brazil call-up

The Blues confirmed that Joao Pedro received over 60 per cent of the votes in an online poll to secure the club’s Player of the Season title. The Brazilian attacker comfortably finished ahead of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, who were placed second and third respectively.

The announcement followed soon after a major international disappointment for Pedro. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to leave him out of the squad for the upcoming World Cup, a move that caught many by surprise. Instead, Ancelotti chose to include experienced forward Neymar, despite the Santos star’s ongoing recovery from injury.

Impressive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge

Though he missed out on international selection, Joao Pedro’s debut season at Stamford Bridge has been nothing short of outstanding. Since joining Chelsea from Brighton last summer for £60 million, he has become only the sixth player in the club’s history to register 20 Premier League goal contributions in his first season. He joins an elite list that includes Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and Cole Palmer. With two league fixtures still to play, Pedro has netted 15 goals and provided five assists in the Premier League. Across all competitions, his tally stands at 25 combined goals and assists.

Ancelotti’s reasoning and Joao Pedro’s reaction

After unveiling his Brazil squad, Ancelotti admitted that leaving certain players out was an unavoidable part of the selection process. “Some of the players who were with us this year won’t be happy with this list. I’m sorry, and I want to thank everyone who was with us,” the coach told reporters.

In response, Joao Pedro shared a composed message following his omission. He wrote, “I always tried to give my best in every moment. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfil my dream of representing my country at a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always strive to be. Football brings both happiness and disappointment. From now on, I’ll be supporting the team as a fan, hoping they can bring home the sixth title.”

What lies ahead?

Chelsea fans will have the opportunity to celebrate Joao Pedro’s accolade at Stamford Bridge on May 19. The club has confirmed that the award will be presented before their London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. Following that, the Blues will wrap up their Premier League season against Sunderland, as they continue to push for qualification to next season’s Europa League.