Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos snubs Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha, names Barcelona’s most important player
FC Barcelona have been one of the standout teams of the 2024–25 season, with stars like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski delivering top performances in attack. However, Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos believes a different player is actually the most important figure in the squad.
Kroos, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of the 21st century, retired at the peak of his career last summer after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. Now enjoying the game from a different perspective, Kroos shared his thoughts on Einfach mal Luppen, the podcast he hosts with his brother Felix.
“For me, Pedri is more important than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, or Lewandowski. They are the ones who decide the outcome of games, but to make that happen, Pedri is currently the best player in the world in his position. Pedri, in general, is a player you’ll miss when he’s not on the field, no matter who you’re playing against. He doesn’t just score goals or provide assists. He offers solutions,” the German said on his podcast.
Kroos also praised the 22-year-old’s contributions this season: “I’ve been watching what Pedri’s doing this season, and just in the Champions League, he beats 52 opponents per match. In La Liga, it’s even more extreme! He’s been beating defenders an average of 11 to 12 times per match—which is the hardest thing to do for a midfielder.“
Despite modest stats—six goals and seven assists in 54 appearances—Pedri has been the engine of Barcelona’s midfield in 2024–25. Kroos believes that his ability to dictate the tempo and create space makes him the most vital piece in Hansi Flick’s system.
Kroos vs. Pedri
Toni Kroos faced Pedri several times during his career in El Clásico matchups. While Kroos holds a 7–2 head-to-head record against the Spaniard, he still vividly remembers the difficulties of defending against him.
“I experienced it myself, especially one time. They tore us apart at home. Once or twice, I thought I could reach him, because Pedri doesn’t look very fast—but he dribbles everywhere, and I couldn’t even stop him with a foul,” Kroos said, referring to Barcelona’s 4–0 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the 2021–22 La Liga season.
He even compared Pedri’s movement to that of Lionel Messi—though with key differences: “He’s not like Messi, where you can see the speed in his movement. Pedri doesn’t look that fast, but he actually is. And he’s fast because of how effortlessly he moves!”