Pedri will be 22 and reach Messi, Xavi or Iniesta in this measure

Peter It is November 25, 2024 The 22 years. The native of Tenerife is old enough to still compete in the lower categories, but he has played many matches in the League, Champions League, Euro Cup or World Cup. The playmaker is going through one of the best moments of his career and now he can boast of an achievement that very few players have achieved. In fact, there is a record that he has broken and that will once again prove him to be more than a promise in football.

Pedri played 161 games at FC Barcelona. He is the second player to have defended the Barça shirt the most times before turning 22 years old. It was surpassed only by Bojan Krkicleaving tender 21 with 163 games under his belt. Pedri is equal to Messiwho also reached the age of 22 with 161 games. They form the ‘top 5’, but far from Pedri’s data, two legends of the Catalan midfield such as Xaviwith 130, and Andres Iniestawith 119.

It is worth pausing here to reflect on the impact of Pedri, who before reaching the age of majority was already present in a dozen games with Barça. It should be considered that he would have crushed Bojan’s score if not for the unfortunate muscle injury, which prevented Pedri from playing more than 60 games with the ‘culé’ team since his debut in the summer of 2020 .

It premiered on Ronald Koemanwhere he played 56 duels, scored 4 goals and distributed 6 assists; with Xavi He was on 87 attempts, scored 16 points and gave another 7. Including flipIn 18 appearances, he has 3 goals and 2 assists. In total, 23 goals and 15 assists. This is a far cry from Leo Messi’s 80 goals before the age of 22, although it is not his job to beat the opposition goal either; instead, help others do it.

The list of players with the most appearances for Barça aged 21 or younger has been completed Javier Saviola (118); Gavi (118), who at the age of 20 has time ahead of him to climb the steps or compete for Pedri’s position; Ansu Fati (117); Ivan de la Pena (105) and Roger Garcia Junent (104). Many historical names were surpassed by a Pedri who, with the help of Hansi Flickhe has no intention of stopping. Lamine Yamalwith 67 participations at the age of just 17, is the next prodigy to break all these records.

Now Pedri is confident that he will be the key to helping Barça overcome a minor slump after two consecutive games without a win. The clash against Brest is also a chance for the Tenerife native to break his Champions League drought: he scored on his debut in the competition in October 2020, against Ferencvaros. Since then, the total drought of 23 duels in the highest continental competition.