Rodri has questioned Pedri’s absence from the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist, insisting that the Barcelona midfielder deserved to be among the nominees after his performances over the past year.
Speaking to COPE, Rodri said Pedri “had to be there” and described his fellow Spain international as one of the best players in the world last season. His comments come after Pedri was surprisingly left out of the shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Softfootball reports that Pedri’s omission has generated considerable discussion, particularly given his contribution to Barcelona and Spain. The midfielder was also part of Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign, further strengthening the debate surrounding his exclusion.
Pedri had already made his quality clear before the tournament, scoring in Spain’s 3-1 friendly victory over Peru in Puebla on June 8. He doubled Spain’s lead in the 32nd minute after Mikel Oyarzabal had opened the scoring early in the match.
Barcelona also celebrated Pedri’s contribution after the victory, highlighting the midfielder’s importance to Spain and his continued influence on the international stage. The result marked Spain’s final World Cup preparation match before their tournament campaign.
Rodri’s comments add another high-profile voice to the growing discussion around Pedri’s Ballon d’Or omission. The Manchester City midfielder has shared the pitch with Pedri for Spain and knows his qualities closely.
For Barcelona, Pedri remains one of the key figures in the squad, while his performances for both club and country continue to underline why his absence from the Ballon d’Or list has attracted attention.
