FC Barcelona’s campaign has suffered a slight drop-off in recent weeks, but certain players have continued to perform with admirable consistency.
Among them is Pedri Gonzalez, a beacon of reliability in midfield and one of coach Hansi Flick’s most dependable assets.
With physical problems seemingly behind him, Pedri’s talents have been regularly on display. This article takes a look at aspects of his gameplay that cement him as the best midfielder in the world.
1. Creative catalyst
Assists may highlight midfield prowess, but Pedri’s brilliance lies deeper—in threading impossible passes, dictating rhythm, and crafting the game’s unspoken poetry.
Sadly, poor finishing has plagued Pedri’s creative brilliance. Since 2022/23, he has crafted 25 big chances and 13.66 expected assists (xA) in La Liga but recorded just 5 assists.
This season, with physical problems finally behind him, the Canary Islander has unsurprisingly been the cream of the crop.
In fact, no player in Europe’s Top 7 Leagues surpasses Pedri’s 37 through passes. In La Liga, he ranks first among midfielders in key passes, through passes, progressive runs, passes to the final third, deep completions and dribbles.
2. Game governor
Controlling the tempo is a skill that often defies measurement through statistics, as it demands an intuitive understanding of the game.
But while Pedri’s ability to govern the game’s tempo can not fully be quantified, his every action and balletic turn on the ball captures the nuance of his ability to dictate the pace of play.
Speeding and slowing the game based on his exceptional situational awareness, Pedri is often the glue in Barcelona’s midfield, preventing the Catalans from plummeting into chaos.
Up front, his touches are limited, and he’s primarily a box-crashing threat. However, he truly excels as a deep-lying playmaker, ticking every box as a controller dictating tempo, retaining possession under pressure, and orchestrating play with precision.
3. Midfield shield
An aspect of Pedri’s game that often gets overlooked is his work out of possession. While he has established himself as a crafty creative force, his awareness to reclaim the ball deserves equal plaudits.
Positioning himself with maturity and closing down spaces effectively are key strengths of his game. The youngster may not be the most physically dominant, but his ability to read the game and sense danger allows him to consistently win duels.
In fact, Pedri is the outfield player with the most recoveries (105) in La Liga this season, which is incredible considering how much responsibility he already has in possession.
Unlike a lot of lightweight technicians who need structural support or niche conditions to protect them off the ball, Pedri covers a tremendous amount of ground, rarely disregarding his defensive duties.
4. Pressure-Proof
When the lights shine brightest, Pedri excels. Pedri has rightfully earned his repute as a big game player, but has been a cut above this season.
His performances against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Atletico Madrid were among his best, with the youngster excelling in every aspect—from ball-winning to creativity and controlling the tempo.
Barcelona’s openers against both Bayern and Dortmund are eerily similar, as Pedri starts the move, playing the penultimate pass for Raphinha’s
goals.
And against both Madrid teams, he played out of his skin. Even in the ‘smaller games’, he has been consistently let down by his teammates.
His influence with commanding gestures and ability to restore order are vital in pressure games, where the team is looking to feed off their most experienced players.
Final Thoughts
Pedri’s possession game is remarkably well-rounded. He combines the creativity, vision, and passing range of the finest playmakers with the pausa, ball retention, and decision-making of the top controllers.
On top of that, his defensive numbers showcase how complete of a midfielder he truly is. He’s no slouch in goalscoring either, but once he becomes more
clinical, there would be no more arguments against him.
The notion that injuries were the only thing holding Pedri back from being crowned the best midfielder in the world was right all along.
