Barcelona’s Pedri Puts Champions League Glory Ahead of Ballon D’Or

Pedri of Spain takes his penalty kick during the penalty shoot out of the UEFA Nations League quarter finals second leg soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands, in Valencia, Spain, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
Pedri of Spain takes his penalty kick during the penalty shoot out of the UEFA Nations League quarter finals second leg soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands, in Valencia, Spain, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
TT
20

Barcelona’s Pedri Puts Champions League Glory Ahead of Ballon D’Or

Pedri of Spain takes his penalty kick during the penalty shoot out of the UEFA Nations League quarter finals second leg soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands, in Valencia, Spain, 23 March 2025. (EPA)
Pedri of Spain takes his penalty kick during the penalty shoot out of the UEFA Nations League quarter finals second leg soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands, in Valencia, Spain, 23 March 2025. (EPA)

Barcelona midfielder Pedri said he is putting team trophies ahead of individual accolades this season and would only want to be awarded the Ballon d'Or if his side won the Champions League and completed the treble.

Barcelona are on an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions which has taken them to the top of LaLiga, the Champions League quarter-finals and the semis of the Copa del Rey.

"I would rather win the treble than the Ballon d'Or. If the Ballon d'Or comes, I want it to come alongside the collective titles," he told local media on Monday.

"Being nominated is a dream, but winning the trophies is more important to me. We are at a time where everything is at stake. You can lose three games and be out of the three titles."

The 22-year-old said it was important to meet the challenges head on and would look forward to a Champions League final against fierce rivals Real Madrid if they both made it.

"We must continue to enjoy these matches to get the best outcome. I would certainly welcome a Champions League final against Real Madrid - it would mean we made it." he added.

"You can't be afraid of any opponent."



Double Injury Blow for Bayern as Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano Both Sidelined

France's defender #04 Dayot Upamecano celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the penalty-shoot out during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final second-leg football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 23, 2025. (AFP)
France's defender #04 Dayot Upamecano celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the penalty-shoot out during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final second-leg football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 23, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20

Double Injury Blow for Bayern as Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano Both Sidelined

France's defender #04 Dayot Upamecano celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the penalty-shoot out during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final second-leg football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 23, 2025. (AFP)
France's defender #04 Dayot Upamecano celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the penalty-shoot out during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final second-leg football match between France and Croatia at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on March 23, 2025. (AFP)

Bayern Munich has been left without two of its top defenders after Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano both picked up serious injuries on international duty.

Davies' season seems to be over after he tore a cruciate ligament in his right knee, Bayern said. The left back was injured while playing for Canada against the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Bayern predicted central defender Upamecano will be out for “several weeks” with a problem in his left knee following his return from playing both legs of France's quarterfinal win over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.

“In international breaks there is unfortunately always a danger that players come back injured, and this time it has hit us especially hard,” Bayern's board member for sport Max Eberl said. “The absences of Alphonso Davies and Dayot Upamecano weigh heavily on FC Bayern.”

Bayern next plays St. Pauli in the Bundesliga on Saturday and faces Inter Milan in the quarterfinals of the Champions League next month.