Paul Scholes named Pedri his “new favourite footballer”, praising the Barcelona midfielder despite his long association with Manchester United.
Scholes posted the comment on Instagram alongside a photo of Pedri taken during Barcelona’s 2-1 Champions League win at Newcastle United.
The result of the game was built around Marcus Rashford's brace and a late Anthony Gordon consolation goal, according to Goal.com. Days later, Scholes went further on his own podcast, calling Pedri the best midfielder in world football.
What Paul Scholes Said About Pedri After Comparing Him To Xavi And Iniesta
Scholes’ initial post, shared on 18 September 2025, read: “Pedri, my new favourite footballer,”
On The Good, The Bad & The Football, the podcast he co-hosts with Nicky Butt and Paddy McGuinness, Scholes explained his praise for Pedri.
“Number 1 is Pedri. When I watched him against Newcastle, I said, wow! He's like a combination of Xavi and Iniesta. And it's not just about his feet; it's about his football intelligence.”
Scholes pointed to Pedri's role in seeing out the win at St James' Park as the moment that changed his mind.
"When Newcastle scored, there were 8 minutes of added time left... But Pedri had the ball for 7 minutes out of the 8. He took total control of the match," he said.
Scholes also explained ManagingBarca on X) why he had not noticed Pedri earlier. "People asked me, ‘Where have you been for 3 or 4 years?’ but I don't really watch Spanish football".
Why Paul Scholes Compared Pedri To Xavi And Iniesta
Xavi and Iniesta were key figures in Barcelona and Spain’s tiki-taka era, making comparisons with either midfielder notable. Scholes’ comment is especially interesting because Xavi once used similar words to describe Scholes himself.
"In the last 15 to 20 years, the best central midfielder that I have seen — the most complete — is Scholes," Xavi said. "Scholes is a spectacular player who has everything."
The comparison also creates a link between Scholes, Xavi and Pedri. Xavi once used similar words to describe Scholes, and Scholes has now used them to praise Pedri.
How Pedri Responded Amid The Ballon d'Or Debate
Scholes’ comments came in the same week that Pedri’s 11th-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or became a topic of discussion in Spain.
Asked about Bonmatí’s and Scholes’ comments at a press conference ahead of Barcelona’s Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain, Pedri responded:
“Paul Scholes said I'm a mix of Xavi and Iniesta? When a football legend praises you or compares you to great players I've always admired since I was a child, it's something beautiful,” he said.
"I know the comparison with Xavi or Andrés is difficult, because the level they showed for so many years was truly amazing."
He told TNT Sports that the timing made the praise feel like “an added motivation” after the Ballon d'Or result. Pedri has since won the 2026 World Cup with Spain, adding to the Euro 2024 title he won two years earlier.
Those achievements have added to the discussion around his standing among the world’s leading midfielders.
