Spanish national team captain Alvaro Morata has heaped praise on Barcelona midfielder Pedri, naming him a potential Ballon d’Or candidate after his impressive performance for La Roja in their 5-1 win over Northern Ireland, according to Sportskeeda.
Pedri, who has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, showed his quality and potential with two goals in the match, including his first international goals. Morata believes Pedri has the potential to win the Ballon d’Or, following in the footsteps of previous winners like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He’s one of our players with the potential to win the Ballon d’Or,” Morata said in an interview. “He’s a player with incredible talent and quality. He’s already shown it in the past, and he’s getting back to his best.”
Morata’s praise for Pedri comes after the Barcelona midfielder’s impressive performance for La Roja. Pedri’s goals were his first in international football, and will be a source of relief for the midfielder, who last played for Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Pedri’s potential has been evident since his breakout performance at Euro 2020, where he was named ‘Young Player of the Tournament’. He has since struggled with injuries, but his performance against Northern Ireland shows he is getting back to his best.