Barcelona star Pedri reflects on Spain career after reaching important milestone: ‘Didn’t expect it so quickly’

Barcelona star Pedri reflects on Spain career after reaching important milestone: ‘Didn’t expect it so quickly’ Pedri reached a major milestone with Spain in fitting surroundings, making his 50th appearance for the national team at Wembley during the 3-2 victory over England. The Barcelona midfielder, who recently played his 250th game for the club , has packed an extraordinary amount into his international career since making his debut in March 2021.  At just 23, he has already experienced two European Championships and a World Cup, collecting major international honours along the way. Wembley also gave the occasion some extra emotion, as Pedri had difficult memories of the stadium after Spain’s Euro 2020 semi-final defeat to Italy there in 2021, making his return for his 50th cap particularly meaningful. Speaking to the Spanish national team media , Pedri admitted that he never expected to reach the milestone so quickly. Pedri marks 50th Spain appearance at Wembley For Pedri, reaching half a century of international appearances was an achievement worth celebrating, particularly given how quickly his career with Spain has developed. “Reaching 50 matches is a big milestone, and it’s a very significant achievement; to be honest, I didn’t expect to reach it so quickly.” The location made the occasion even more memorable. “I have bad memories of that stadium because of the semi-final we lost (2021) – it was a tough match. “But returning to a stadium like that to play my 50th match, and on top of that with the team winning, made me very happy.” The victory over England therefore allowed Pedri to rewrite some of his Wembley memories. Instead of leaving the stadium after another difficult night, he celebrated a landmark appearance with a Spain victory. From Greece debut to Spain’s biggest trophies Pedri’s international journey began against Greece in March 2021, during an unusual period when football was still heavily affected by the Covid pandemic. Looking back, the Barcelona midfielder remembers the occasion vividly. “It feels as though my debut was only yesterday; so much has happened since then. “We’ve been through two Euros and a World Cup, and we’ve managed to win one of each, so I think we’ve achieved some very good results so far, and I hope to carry on in this vein.” His debut came at Granada’s Los Carmenes stadium, where he entered the match as a substitute for Dani Olmo. “I remember we were wearing face masks because of Covid, and pre-season training wasn’t like it is now; things weren’t quite as normal as they are today. “I particularly remember starting to build a good rapport with Dani Olmo, Ferran, and that group of lads who really helped me settle into the national team. “I remember it was at the Granada stadium, Los Carmenes, against Greece; I’ll never forget that match. “I came on as a substitute for Dani Olmo, and I was trying not to get too nervous, because it’s not every day you play your first match for the national team.” Pedri played his 50th game for Spain against England at the iconic Wembley. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) Since then, Pedri has become an established figure in Spain’s midfield and has been part of the side’s most successful recent campaigns. Pedri wants more trophies with Spain The midfielder has already experienced the highest achievements possible at international level, winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he has no intention of treating those successes as the end of the journey. “Winning the World Cup and the European Championship with the national team is the greatest thing you can achieve. “I think defending the title is the hardest thing, and we’ll be going all out to achieve that. “We’re a young team with many years ahead of us, and we’ll fight and give it our all.” Yet for all the medals, trophies and landmark appearances, Pedri’s reflection was not about personal achievements. “What I cherish most about football is the friends I’ve made. “I think that’s what stays with you; it doesn’t matter how many titles or matches you’ve won. It’s the friendships that last forever,” he concluded.