The shocking numbers highlighting Barcelona’s dependence on midfield maestro

Pedri continues to prove why he is the engine of Barcelona , constantly setting the rhythm and driving the team forward.

His influence on the pitch is clear not only in his performances but also in the numbers.

To put things in perspective, out of the 23 players Hansi Flick has used at the start of the 2025-2026 season, Pedri is the only one to start all nine official matches .

This includes two Champions League games and seven LaLiga fixtures, highlighting his importance to the German coach.

Pedri has faced heavy criticism early in the season, but the facts show why careful management is necessary.

Last season, Flick aimed to start him regularly while giving him second-half rests. This year, Pedri has played 95% of all possible minutes – 776 out of 810.

Pedri has been Barcelona’s driving force. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

In the Champions League, he has completed 169 of 180 minutes (93%), and in LaLiga, he has featured in 607 out of 630 minutes (96%).

The midfielder, who finished 11th in the Ballon d’Or ranking , has played full matches against Mallorca, Levante, Rayo Vallecano, and Newcastle United, and was taken off in the stoppage time against Real Oviedo and Real Sociedad.

His longest outings were against Getafe (rested 14 minutes) and Valencia (rested 9).

Pedri has featured in 79 of the last 80 matches for Barcelona and Spain, missing only one game last season due to gastroenteritis and a recent Spain match against Bulgaria.

The primary reason for managing his minutes is to avoid injuries. Pedri has been free from muscle problems for over a year, but in 2023-2024, he faced three muscle issues, and in 2022-2023, he suffered two serious injuries.

For Barcelona , protecting Pedri is crucial not only because of his talent but because he is central to the team’s success.