Why Pedri is the underdog in the race to win the Ballon d’Or this year | OneFootball

When you think of Barcelona’s recent glory days, you think of Xavi and Andres Iniesta as the players who typified their dominant and stylish midfield displays.

Now in the new era under Hansi Flick, it is Pedri carrying the torch for the Catalan giants. The Spaniard is fast becoming the best central midfielder in the world — if he isn’t there already — and an incredible performance during Barca’s 1-0 win over Real Mallorca summed up his rise to the top of the game after he broke his own record.

Before Tuesday night’s result, Pedri held the record for most possessions won in a game with 17 against Celta Vigo, set just three days earlier. Against Mallorca, he broke that record, winning possession 18 times.

It seems bizarre to focus on such a specific stat. But the stats really do show his dominance in that arena as the most aggressive midfielder when it comes to pressing and winning the ball back. Pedri has won possession 227 times so far this season, more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues . The next best total comes from Chelsea‘s Moises Caicedo who has won possession 192 times.

That’s just one aspect of Pedri’s game. He can do it all. His relentless efforts capped off an effortless display that saw him dazzle with the ball at his feet too. One clip showed him easily collect a lofted pass with the edge of his heel as the ball flew towards the back of his body, despite the angle looking awkward for him.

His man-of-the-match performance was hailed by Barcelona manager Flick, who said the player’s limit was hard to quantify as he applauded his ability with and without the ball.

“It’s difficult to say what Pedri’s limit is,” he said after the game.

“He’s currently at a very high level. Not only when he has the ball, but also without it. He helps us a lot defensively, and everyone knows how good he is.”

And you know a player is really special when even the opposition manager is singing his praises. Mallorca boss Jagoba Arrasate was left stunned by his display and said he couldn’t remember the last time he had seen a player of Pedri’s quality.

“When you see Pedri, you analyse him and you enjoy from your TV. But then you see him against you and you want him to stop. I haven’t seen a midfielder like this in a long time,” he said.

Barcelona remain four points clear at the top of La Liga and Pedri has been integral to the club’s rise to the top of the table this season. He leads the way in a number of impressive stats that show just how he has bossed proceedings in La Liga.

Let’s go through them. We’ve already highlighted his prowess when it comes to being an accomplished ball-winning midfielder, but Pedri is proving to be the complete all-rounder. Of course, you can’t be a successful Barcelona midfielder if you’re not a good passer and Pedri trumps the competition in that regard too.

This stat is a monstrous one and shows how dominant he is in all areas with the ball. He is the only player to complete 1,000+ passes in the opposition half in La Liga this season, completing a total of 1,403. That’s more than 400 more passes than the next best player and he’s got a passing accuracy of 84.1%.

He’s also shown he can play those key passes that cut through the opposition rather than just keeping possession for possession’s sake. He has completed the joint-most through balls in La Liga this season — level with team-mate Lamine Yamal. In the top five leagues, only Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise (15) and Martin Odegaard of Arsenal (14) have more.

Pedri can also go past players with ease. He’s the only player in La Liga to attempt more than 50 take-ons and have a 60% success rate. That equates to 34 take-ons completed from 54 attempted.

And while Pedri has shown he’s adept at tackling and pressing high up the pitch, he’s avoided reckless challenges and won the ball more times than not. Of the players who have featured in a minimum of 1,500 minutes this season, no player has conceded fewer fouls than Pedri, who has just nine from 2,541 minutes.

It’s quite remarkable when you consider he has won the most possessions and conceded the fewest fouls in the process and highlights the sheer consistency to his play.

Barcelona fans are now hailing Pedri as a “generational talent” on social media, with some claiming he has taken on the best traits of Xavi, Iniesta and also Sergio Busquets.

Some have even suggested he could be an outsider to win the Ballon d’Or this year as one said: “If I had to pick one Barça player for the Ballon d’Or, it’d be Pedri, and I’d do so without even the slightest bit of hesitation.”

Another added: “Calling Pedri the best midfielder [in the world] is an offence, he’s the best player in the world.”

Pedri will certainly have a good case to win the esteemed prize should he finish the season with the Champions League and La Liga trophies in his hands – on top of the Euro 2024 he won with Spain last summer.

His Spain team-mate Rodri has already paved the way for more central midfielders to claim the accolade after he won his first ever Ballon d’Or last year, despite outcry from Brazilians and Real Madrid fans that felt Vinicius Jr should have been given it.

Pedri’s manager Flick is right. At just 22 years old, there is no limit to what this player can reach given the confident, mature displays he is churning out that ooze class. He has started 30 of Barcelona’s 33 games in the league this season, scoring four and assisting four – but that doesn’t begin to sum up his importance to the team.

One compliment he has received — from the man he has been so widely compared to — speaks volumes about his potential. Club legend Iniesta, who played 674 times for the club, dismissed comparisons between them and said it was important he “forged his own path”, insisting he could see his talent growing by the year.

“Pedri? There are things that might remind you of me,” he said.

“There may be a few similarities, but what’s more important is that he’s forging his own path as he is now, and that we see this talent growing year after year. And seeing him shine and enjoy himself on the pitch.”

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