Pedri Gonzalez: The Journey of Barcelona’s Golden Boy

Pedri Gonzalez is an exceptional player who has mesmerized the world with his talents. He has won the Golden Boy awards which puts him in a special class of players.

This puts him in the same class as Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and teammates Joao Felix and Gavi. With his prodigious talent, Pedri will have ample time to rewrite history.

Pedri’s career is only starting and he has already made an impact in the footballing world. As he continues to make history, Footballers’ Biographies will bring you the exciting bits of his adventure.

Player Profile – Pedri Gonzalez

Pedri Gonzalez is a player for the Spanish national team and the Barcelona senior team. He is the 2021 Golden Boy beating off competition from Jamal Musiala, Mason Greenwood and Eduardo Camavinga.

He has also represented the Spanish national team at the World Cup and EUROS but he missed out on the Spanish national team’s UEFA Nations League victory. Pedri Gonzalez is an excellent midfielder who is primarily right-footed but can use both feet equally.

Player Profile Overview

The Early Life of Pedri Gonzalez

Pedri Gonzalez hails from a family deeply rooted in the culinary world. His parents, María Rosario and Fernando run a roadside bar renowned for serving authentic Islas Canarias cuisine.

They attract surfers en route to Bajamar or Puerto Hidalgo. While his father manages the bar and lounge, his mother and paternal grandmother, Candelaria, oversee the kitchen, dishing out delectable “homemade” dishes.

Pedri Gonzalez’s Playing Style

Pedri Gonzalez likes to occupy central areas but also moves wide to create chances and drops deep to collect the ball. Although he was initially a winger, Pedri transitioned to central midfield but can play as an attacking or defensive midfielder and even as a centre-forward.

Pedri is quick, intelligent, creative, and hard-working. He has excellent technical skills, dribbling, ball control, passing, awareness, and vision.

Pedri Gonzalez’s ability to navigate tight spaces and deliver precise passes makes him an effective playmaker. He is praised for his stamina, composure under pressure, and ambidextrous ability. Pedri Gonzalez’s playing style has drawn comparisons to former Barcelona stars like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Michael Laudrup, and Lionel Messi.

Pedri Gonzalez’s Career Highlights

Pedri started his youth career at Tegueste in 2012 and played for the club for 3 years. After leaving Tegueste, Pedri joined Juventud Laguna, staying with the club for 3 years from 2015 to 2018.

After leaving Juventud Laguna in 2018, Pedri Gonzalez joined Las Palmas’s youth setup. On 15 July 2019, at the age of 16, he signed a professional four-year contract with the club and was promoted to the first team by manager Pepe Mel.

He made his professional debut on 18 August 2019, starting in a 0–1 home loss against Huesca in the Segunda División.

Pedri Gonzalez scored his first professional goal on 19 September, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Las Palmas history. He scored the game’s only goal in a home victory over Sporting Gijon.

Pedri Gonzalez Joins the Blauguranas

Barcelona reached an agreement with Las Palmas on 2 September 2019 for the transfer of Pedri Gonzalez, effective from 1 July 2020. Pedri signed a two-year contract with Barcelona for €5 million, with potential increases based on contract clauses.

He was assigned to the main squad for the 2020–21 season, he wore the number 16 shirt. Pedri Gonzalez made his debut on 27 September, replacing Philippe Coutinho in a 4–0 La Liga victory against Villarreal. Pedri Gonzalez earned his first start on 17 October in a 1–0 loss to Getafe.

On 20 October, he scored his first goal for Barcelona in a 5–1 UEFA Champions League win over Ferencváros. Pedri came on as a substitute to replace Ansu Fati. Pedri’s first La Liga goal came on 7 November in a 5–2 win against Real Betis, assisted by Sergi Roberto.

Pedri Wins the Golden Boy

In early 2021, Pedri made significant contributions to Barcelona, including scoring a goal and assisting another in a victory against Athletic Bilbao, and winning his first senior trophy in the Copa del Rey.

By May, he became the second-youngest player to reach 50 appearances for Barcelona. In October, he signed a new contract with a record €1 billion release clause.

In November, Pedri’s exceptional performances earned him the Golden Boy Award and the Kopa Trophy. These awards recognized him as the best under-21 player in European and world football, respectively.

Pedri Gonzalez’s Season-Ending Injury

In a 2-2 draw against Espanyol, Pedri scored the fastest Derbi Barceloní goal of the 21st century, taking just 75 seconds. However, during Barcelona’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Frankfurt, Pedri suffered a hamstring injury. Thisled to concerns that he might miss the remainder of the season.

On 28 January 2023, Pedri played his 100th appearance in all competitions. He marked the occasion by scoring the winning goal in a La Liga match against Girona.

He came on to replace the injured Ousmane Dembele in the 26th minute. The 2024 season saw Pedri play only 23 La Liga matches with 4 goals and 2 assists.

International Career

Pedri Gonzalez started his international career with the Spanish U17 side. He also played for the U18 and U19 sides before moving up the ranks.

Pedri was called up to the Spain under-21 squad on 21 August 2020. He made his debut in a 1–0 win over Macedonia in a qualifying match for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

In March 2021, he received his first call-up to the Spain senior team from coach Luis Enrique for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification group stage. Pedri made his senior team debut on 25 March against Greece.

Pedri Gonzalez at the EURO 2022

Pedri was included in Luis Enrique’s 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020 on 24 May 2021. On 14 June, he became the youngest player to represent Spain at the European Championships.

On 28 June, he also became the youngest player to feature in a knockout game at the Euros during the last-16 match against Croatia, despite scoring an own goal in Spain’s 5-3 extra-time victory.

Pedri played nearly every minute of Spain’s six matches, playing a key role in their run to the semifinals, where they lost to Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

He completed 65 of 66 passes in the semifinal and was voted the Young Player of the Tournament. Pedri was the only Spanish player named in the Team of the Tournament.

Playing at the World Cup and the Summer Olympics

Pedri Gonzalez’s busy schedule in 2021 saw him joining Spain’s squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics despite concerns from Barcelona’s manager, Ronald Koeman.

He played a full 90 minutes in Spain’s opener against Egypt and featured in the final against Brazil, marking his 73rd game of the season, where Spain faced a 2–1 defeat in extra time.

In 2022, Pedri Gonzalez participated in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as part of Spain’s squad. He started in all four matches but faced elimination in the Round of 16 against Morocco, losing on penalties.

Pedri Gonzalez’s Personal Life

Pedri Gonzalez comes from a family of super Barcelona fans. Pedri’s grandfather was renowned as a staunch supporter of the club.

He established the Pena Barcelonista de Tenerife Tegueste, the largest fan club backing the Cules in their hometown. Pedri loves to travel a lot and is an avid fan of video games. He also expresses his disappointment that arch-rivals Real Madrid passed up the opportunity to sign him.

Pedri Gonzalez’s Role Model

From a young age, Pedri aspired to emulate Barcelona and Spanish icon Andres Iniesta. Inspired by Iniesta’s prowess both on and off the field, Pedri sought to mirror his idol in every aspect.

In one instance, he even requested a haircut to resemble Iniesta, though his father ultimately vetoed the idea. Undeterred, Pedri focused on honing his skills to emulate the playing style of El Cerebro.

In an interview with Barca TV, Pedri expressed his admiration for Iniesta, highlighting how he gleaned invaluable insights into the game from observing the World Cup winner.

Conclusion

Pedri Gonzalez’s journey from a small-town boy with big dreams to a rising star in the footballing world is nothing short of inspiring.

His exceptional talents and performances for Barcelona have put him on the global stage, playing with the likes of Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.

As he continues to make strides on the pitch, Pedri remains grounded as he strives to reach the pinnacle of world football.

With each match, he etches his name deeper into the annals of football history, leaving an indelible mark that will inspire generations to come.