Praised by Jardim, Pedro chases third Carioca top-scorer crown | OneFootball

Amid a turbulent week at Flamengo, Pedro hit four in an 8-0 semi-final win over Madureira, ending an almost month-long wait to score.

According to Globo.com, the number nine is up to six goals in the competition, level at the top with Bangu’s Patryck Ferreira. Bangu bow out on Saturday in the Taça Rio final against Botafogo, 18:00 Brasília time, at Nilton Santos.

At the same hour on Sunday, Pedro faces former club Fluminense. His other rival for the scoring prize is the Colombian forward Serna, who has five.

If he finishes ahead of Patryck Ferreira and Serna, Pedro would collect his third Carioca top-scorer award. He first did so in 2018 with Fluminense on seven goals, then again in 2024 with 11, a personal best that accompanied Flamengo’s 38th state crown.

Pedro had lost minutes under Filipe Luís, but Leonardo Jardim’s arrival could bring more chances. At his Thursday unveiling, the coach praised Pedro’s penalty-box qualities, said they are starting from zero and that he believes in him without guaranteeing starts or 90 minutes.

The Madureira rout also delivered his eighth hat-trick for Flamengo, lifting him to 10th on the club list alongside Sávio, Jarbas, Fragoso and Durval. Zico leads with 33, followed by Dida on 19, Leônidas da Silva 18, Pirillo 17, Alfredinho and Romário 14, Henrique Frade 13, Índio 11 and Nonô 10. Since 1999, no one has come close to the current number nine for games with three or more.

Source: Globo.com