Barcelona star Pedri hails 'really incredible' Jude Bellingham after being paired with Real Madrid midfielder in Ballon d'Or nominations

Pedri and Real Madrid talisman Bellingham, both 22, are among the 30 nominees for the individual award, with the winner set to be announced on 22 September. Pedri has been recognised after helping Barcelona win the domestic double in 2024-25, while Bellingham produced a strong second season at Real, registering nine goals and nine assists apiece in La Liga.

Despite the fierce competitiveness between the El Clasico rivals, Pedri was full of praise for Bellingham - alongside his Real team-mate Kylian Mbappe - when discussing which players stand the best chance of getting their hands on the Ballon d'Or this year.

Speaking to France Football, in quotes carried by Mundo Deportivo, Pedri said of both Bellingham and Mbappe: “Real Madrid have a lot of very good players. When Kylian Mbappe has the ball and is in a one-on-one, it is very difficult to stop him. 

"And Jude Bellingham is really incredible. He combines physical strength with technical ability, which makes facing him extremely difficult.”

Pedri and Bellingham are not expected to claim the Ballon d'Or despite their excellent efforts in 2024-25. Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele, who played a key role in his side's Ligue 1, Coupe de France and UEFA Champions League treble success, is viewed as the current favourite for the prize.

Barcelona are next in action when they take on Serie A side Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy on Sunday, before facing Mallorca in their opening fixture of the 2025-26 La Liga season. Real, meanwhile, will face Austrian Bundesliga outfit WSG Tirol in a friendly next Tuesday before locking horns with Osasuna in their first La Liga match of the new campaign.