Barcelona's new signing questions France Football's voting

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has expressed his open bemusement at the omission of his teammate and midfield partner Pedri from the recently unveiled 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist.

The 30-man list of candidates for this year's 'Golden Ball' was published by France Football earlier this month, and the 23-year-old Spanish international was conspicuously absent. The exclusion was widely viewed as a snub, given that Pedri arrived in the new campaign fresh off a domestic and international double — lifting La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.

'One of the best in the world last year'

Rodri, a summer arrival at the Camp Nou and himself among the Ballon d'Or nominees, was asked for his assessment of Pedri's exclusion during a media appearance this week. The Manchester City-built midfielder did not hold back, telling COPE (via Fabrizio Romano):

"Pedri had to be there, one of the best in the world last year."

The remarks add a fresh voice to a debate that has simmered in the Catalan capital since the shortlist dropped. With Rodri now operating alongside Pedri in the Blaugrana engine room, the pair's partnership is already drawing comparisons to the most elite midfields in world football — and the Ballon d'Or ballot has become an early flashpoint.

Whether Pedri's absence ultimately costs him individual honours this year remains to be seen, but his teammate's public backing underscores just how highly he is rated within the Barcelona dressing room.