Pedri: Record breaker

Pedri just can’t stop breaking records. Against Sweden he became the youngest Spaniard ever to play at the European Championship, and against Croatia he became the youngest player, not just for Spain but for any team, to appear in the knockout stages. Aged 18 years and 215 days he thus beats the English duo of Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney. 

Not only that, but he was simply outstanding in the dramatic 5-3 defeat of Croatia, and has now been on the pitch for the entirety of the four games Spain have played in the tournament so far.

He is joint top in the Euro 2020 ranking for chances created, ten, the same as his Spain and Barça colleague Jordi Alba. He is also top for passes in the opposition’s half, 233. And his 48 completed passes in the final third against Sweden are also a tally that no other player has been able to match, and his total of 114 in the same category is also a tournament high. 

Pedri is tied with Toni Kroos for passes in the opposition’s half, with Jordi Alba third. Alba is also second for recoveries (33), second for touches of the ball (399), third for total passes (321) and third for good passes in the final third (96). 

Jordi Alba was named MVP of Spain’s game with Poland, while Sergio Busquets has been handed the same award in the two games he has appeared in since rejoining the squad, against Slovakia and Croatia.  

Eric Garcia shares another record

And Barça’s new signing Eric Garcia is not exempt from all these achievements either. When he and Pedri appeared together against Slovakia and Croatia, it was the first time that two players aged 20 or less had appeared at the Euros in the same Spanish starting XI. 

The Barça stars have been shining for Spain at Euro 2020, and there could still be plenty more football to be played yet. 

Without doubt, Pedri is the name to drop in European Football at the moment and the summer is far from over.