Not easy, Pedro! 11 Flamengo striker rivals score this round

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·5 Mei 2026

Not easy, Pedro! 11 Flamengo striker rivals score this round

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti saw Pedro’s goal up close at the Maracanã; but the competition also shined

Pedro is an outsider in the race to earn a spot at the World Cup with the Brazil national team. However, life will not be easy for the Flamengo center forward. The matches from the latest round in the world’s main leagues proved that. After all, 11 rivals of the red-and-black top scorer found the net.

WHICH OF PEDRO’S RIVALS SCORED THIS ROUND?

Luiz Henrique – goal for Zenit (RUS) against CSKA (RUS), on Saturday (02) Igor Thiago – goal for Brentford (ENG) against West Ham (ENG), on Saturday (02) Marcos Leonardo – goal for Al Hilal (SAU) against Al Hazm (SAU), on Saturday (02) Rayan – goal for Bournemouth (ENG) against Crystal Palace (ENG), on Sunday (03) Richarlison – goal for Tottenham (ENG) against Aston Villa (ENG), on Sunday (03) Matheus Cunha – goal for Manchester United (ENG) against Liverpool (ENG), on Sunday (03) Endrick – goal for Lyon (FRA) against Rennes (FRA), on Sunday (03) Vini Jr – two goals for Real Madrid (ESP) against Espanyol (ESP), on Sunday (03) Igor Jesus – goal for Nottingham Forest (ENG) against Chelsea (ENG), on Monday (04) João Pedro – goal for Chelsea (ENG) against Nottingham Forest (ENG), on Monday (04) Kaio Jorge – goal for Cruzeiro against Atlético-MG, on Saturday (02)

In the list above, we even included names who will likely not be at the World Cup, such as Marcos Leonardo and Kaio Jorge. Even so, the duo stood out over the weekend. We also included forwards already guaranteed a place at the World Cup, such as Vini Jr. The academy product shined with two stunning goals in Real Madrid’s win in the Spanish league.

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BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DIRECT RIVALS?

To make it to the World Cup, Pedro is directly competing with Igor Thiago and João Pedro. And both did well in the latest Premier League round. The first scored from the penalty spot in Brentford’s win over West Ham. Now, the Brazilian is three goals behind Haaland, the competition’s top scorer. Meanwhile, ‘JP’ scored a stunning bicycle kick in Chelsea’s loss to Nottingham Forest.

Also knocking on the door and capable of making life difficult for Pedro are Rayan and Endrick. The former Vasco player scored a beautiful goal and helped Bournemouth to victory. The former Palmeiras player was decisive once again for Lyon and is very unlikely to miss out on the World Cup.

COUNTDOWN TIME, HUH, PEDRO?

Brazil’s squad announcement will take place on May 18 at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro. Pedro will have only four more matches before the list is revealed. The first of them will be this Thursday (07), against Independiente Medellín (COL), in the fourth round of the Copa Libertadores.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.