When he receives the ball in the box, John Kennedy does what he does best: he turns, readies to shoot and fires home. It is a fitting metaphor for his career to date – one of pure talent on a journey that has forced him to change course, adapt and strive towards his goal. At 22, the striker arrived in Mexico with the talent, skill and dribbling ability that had brought him to the fore with Fluminense FC in Brazil. But he also needed to prove that his career would not be defined by previous occasional flashes of brilliance.
Kennedy joined Fluminense as a teenager and earned himself the nickname El Niño Milagro (The Miracle Boy) when he snatched victory from under the noses of CA Boca Juniors in the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores final with a dramatic extra-time winner. At the Maracana, he fulfilled Fluminense’s long-standing dream of winning the continental title after years of watching others enjoy glory.
The Brazilian bid farewell to begin a new chapter in his career, and CF Pachuca – a club that believes in young talent – gave him that chance. Under the watchful eye of former coach Guillermo Almada, he got off to a flying start and remained in contention for the Liga MX Clausura top goalscorer award for a large part of the competition. Jaime Lozano, a young coach with an attacking philosophy, has now taken the reins and will look to bring the best out of his gifted squad.
After lighting up the Copa Libertadores final at a legendary stadium, the spotlight will once again shine on him at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™. Pachuca face FC Salzburg, Real Madrid C. F. and Al Hilal in Group H, with their sights set on getting through the group stage and proving the doubters wrong – a familiar scenario for Los Tuzos.
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John Kennedy: I think the name says it all – it’s the Club World Cup. It’s not just important for Pachuca; every team will have their eyes on the prize. For us, it presents an opportunity to add a new trophy to our cabinet. When you win a competition of this magnitude, everyone gains confidence and recognition, especially the club. It would really put Pachuca on the map.
All professional players aspire to play against the world’s best teams. Facing Real Madrid will be a great experience – they have firmly established themselves as the world’s best. I’m lost for words. I think it’ll be truly wonderful and I can guarantee I’ll enjoy every second I spend on the pitch.
The key is to keep our foot on the pedal and show togetherness. If you want to defeat a great side, you have to be a proper, close-knit unit. I think it’s a matter of staying calm and composed. We obviously respect every opponent, especially if they’re at the top of world football.
I obviously watch a lot of football. I watch plenty of the [UEFA] Champions League, as well as other top European leagues. I try to identify defenders’ main weaknesses – what makes them vulnerable – and to exploit them.
They’re solid defenders, which will make them tough opponents. We have to do our best to capitalise on their weaknesses. I get ready by analysing footage of their recent matches, but I mainly focus on myself. I try to work on my own abilities so that I can pose a threat.
As always, we’re going to take it match by match, striving to perform at our best. That’s the goal. We want to go toe to toe with everyone we face and give them a run for their money.
