'It's always been a dream' - Barcelona star Pedri reveals Ballon d'Or aspirations ahead of Champions League semi-final after Rodri's triumph showed him players who 'run midfield' can win top awards

Barcelona midfielder Pedri has revealed he's always dreamt of winning a Ballon d'Or, citing fellow Spaniard Rodri's win in 2024 to explain why he believes that a "player who runs the midfield and dictates the tempo" can go on to lift the prestigious individual accolade.

Speaking to UEFA, Pedri said: "Since Rodri won it, it’s shown that a player who runs the midfield and dictates the tempo and the rhythm of the game can win a Ballon d'Or. I was really pleased he won it because aside from the season he had, I really enjoy playing with him when I’m with the national team. He’s a player who controls the game really well, wins the ball back, gets forward, scores goals – he’s everywhere on the pitch.

"It’s always been a dream of mine to lift the Ballon d'Or. But right now, there’s a month to go, and the focus is on the team – on winning the three trophies, which is what really matters and once that month’s over, we’ll see if we can start talking about things like that."

The Canary Islands native has been in sparkling form in the centre of the pitch for the Catalans this season. Having fully rid of his injury issues, Pedri has flourished and transcended to the next level under head coach Hansi Flick. In fact, fans all across the globe are already clamoring to see the 22-year-old, hailed by many of them as the "best in the world", to lift the Ballon d'Or in 2025.

Thanks to Barcelona's dominance across all competitions, Pedri has staked a claim to win the honour alongside his fellow team-mates Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal, as well as Ousmane Dembele, Mo Salah, and Harry Kane.

Back in March, Pedri's midfield partner Gavi picked the 22-year-old over Raphinha and Yamal when asked who he'd give the award to. "Nobody deserves the Ballon d’Or more than Pedri, everyone knows what kind of a player he is," Gavi said.

The former Las Palmas man will next be seen in action on Wednesday, April 30, when Barcelona welcome Inter for the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.