Pedri matches Cristiano Ronaldo feat as Spain beat Italy in Euro 2024 clash
Spain midfielder Pedri matched a major Cristiano Ronaldo record as he featured for his country in their narrow Euro 2024 win over Italy. The Barcelona man started for the second successive game, helping his side to extend their 100 percent record in the tournament so far.
Pedri has had a fast start to life as a professional footballer, from making his professional debut aged 16 at Las Palmas to debuting for Barcelona at the age of 17. He also made his national team debut aged just 18 in March 2021 and played his first international tournament three months later.
Spain manager Luis De La Fuente has shown trust in Pedri, starting him in both of their games so far, despite his struggles for fitness last season. By featuring against Italy, the 21-year-old made his 12th appearance at a major tournament for La Roja, becoming only the second player aged 21 or under with such a record, the first being Cristiano Ronaldo.
Pedri played at Euro 2020 and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and is in his third major international tournament. Ronaldo achieved the feat by playing in Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup, back then.
There is a very strong likelihood that the Barcelona midfielder will become the outright holder of the record in this tournament. With a game left to play, La Roja have already secured a place in the knockout stages, and the 21-year-old will continue to play, if fit.
Pedri and many of his Spain teammates did not have to get out of third gear for most of the match against Italy as they dominated from start to finish. They were eventual 1-0 winners as Riccardo Calafiori put the ball into the back of his own net in the second half.
Pedri features as Spain book last 16 ticket
Barcelona midfielder Pedri played for 71 minutes in Gelsenkirchen as Spain defeated Italy 1-0 to qualify as Group B winners with a game to spare. The 2008 and 2012 winners were a cut above their opponents as they toyed with them for much of the clash, with Gianluigi Donnarumma keeping the scores from being much bigger.
Spain and Italy faces each other for the sixth time in the last five Euros, and unlike three years ago, La Roja triumphed from the tie. Having defeated Croatia 3-0 in their first game, Spain have now picked up six points from their first two games.
La Roja have sealed qualification for the Round of 16 as Italy are on three points and both Albania and Croatia have one point apiece. De La Fuente's side have got the job done early enough and he can rest players when his team faces Albania next.