'Why not dream?' - Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri on Ballon d'Or aspirations and the best player at Real Madrid
Published 09/08/2025 at 12:53 GMT+1
Barcelona midfielder Pedri has set his sights on winning the Ballon d'Or after his Spain teammate Rodri’s triumph in 2024. The midfielder has also had his say on the race for this year's award, admitting Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele both have qualities that make them worthy of the prize. Pedri is hoping to help Barca retain their La Liga title this season.
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Barcelona star Pedri admits he dreams of following in his compatriot Rodri’s footsteps by winning the Ballon d'Or during his career.
The most coveted individual honour in world football has traditionally been awarded to forwards, but the Spaniard believes the Manchester City midfielder’s triumph in 2024 shows times are changing.
Rodri finished ahead of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior in the rankings after inspiring Pep Guardiola’s side to the Premier League title and winning the Euros with Spain.
Pedri believes that Barcelona will need to have an equally successful season if he is to stand any chance of claiming the prize.
"For a long time, this award was mainly given to strikers," he told French publication L'Equipe.
"Rodri's victory proves that the role of midfielder is finally being recognised for what it's worth.
"Because a lot of football is played in midfield.
"When a team dominates that area, it wins matches more easily.
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"So yes, why not dream of winning the Ballon d'Or during my career?
"To do that, we'll need to have a very good season as a team."
Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele are two of the favourites to win this year’s awards following the release of the shortlist earlier this week.
Pedri has played alongside both of the forwards, and he believes they have unique qualities that put them among the best players in the world.
"Playing with them is a real pleasure," he said. "Both have had incredible seasons, each in their own style.
"Lamine is a player who dares to go into tackles and handles one-on-ones with great confidence.
"He has this ability to dribble with incredible ease, as if he had no defenders in front of him. He plays for fun and it shows.
"He has enormous potential and is very good with both feet; we're not even sure which one is his favourite.
"He has really shone this season. He's also scored a lot of goals, which is new for him.
"As for Dembélé, he's a very unpredictable player, capable of attacking on either side, which makes him difficult for opponents to read.
"He's also coming off an exceptional season, often proving decisive."
Pedri’s Barca side beat Real Madrid to the La Liga title last term despite Los Blancos’ star-studded squad.
However, the 22-year-old believes his side’s bitter rivals have several players who can make the difference during the 2025/26 campaign.
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"Jude is truly impressive," he added. "He combines physical strength and technical skill, which makes him very difficult to deal with.
"In the last four Clásicos, we managed to contain him well and, above all, take control of the game, which is essential for us.
"We like it when we dictate the pace, when we keep the ball, rather than letting Jude, Vinicius or Mbappe lead the game.
"That's when we enjoy ourselves the most and feel the strongest.
"This rivalry is a real challenge; it pushes us to surpass ourselves. Real Madrid has a lot of very good players.
"When Kylian [Mbappe] gets the ball and finds himself one-on-one, he is very difficult to stop."
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