Barcelona Midfielder Pedri Praises Real Madrid Stars Bellingham, Mbappe in Ballon d'Or Nominations

Barcelona midfielder Pedri, recently nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or after a stellar treble-winning season, spoke highly of Real Madrid rivals Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe, highlighting Bellingham's blend of physical strength and technical skill that makes him 'really incredible' and difficult to play against. Despite intense rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Pedri praised the quality of Madrid’s squad and acknowledged the challenge posed by Mbappe’s one-on-one ability. Pedri's comments come as both teams bolster their squads following Barcelona's dominance last season, which included four consecutive Clasico victories and multiple trophies at Real’s expense. Pedri also expressed hope of winning the Ballon d'Or himself, inspired by fellow midfielder Rodri's win, and emphasized the growing recognition of midfielders in football’s top individual awards. He attributed Barcelona’s recent success to a blend of young talents, a strong team philosophy, and the supportive management style of coach Hansi Flick, describing the environment at the club as essential for player development and confidence.