Szczesny names surprise player as the most impressive he’s ever played with ahead of Ronaldo, Pogba, and Lewandowski

Former Juventus and current Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has declared Pedri the most impressive player he’s ever played with  even more than Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, and Robert Lewandowski.

The 35-year-old shot-stopper, who enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Juventus before joining Barcelona, says Pedri’s performances during the 2024/25 season were unlike anything he has witnessed throughout his career.

Szczesny, who has also played for Arsenal and Roma, has shared the pitch with elite talents including Ronaldo, Pogba, Ozil, Van Persie, Mo Salah, Francesco Totti, and more recently Lamine Yamal and Lewandowski. But it is 22-year-old Pedri who has left him speechless.

“What Pedri did this season… I’ve never seen a season like that from any player,” Szczesny told Foot Truck. “Watching him live, seeing how he controls the game both defensively and offensively… incredible.”

“He’s the player who’s impressed me the most in my entire life. I don’t know what makes up his genius, but he doesn’t lose the ball. For me, he was the best in the world.”

Pedri made 59 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona last season, helping the club to a domestic double. Though not known for scoring or assisting frequently, the midfielder’s influence on games was undeniable.

Barça manager Hansi Flick agreed with Szczesny, saying:

“Pedri is fantastic. When he touches the ball, you see real magic. He’s constantly improving.”

Other teammates have also highlighted Pedri’s value. Winger Raphinha called him “the heart of the team,” despite his low goal contribution stats.

“He doesn’t have many assists, he doesn’t have a lot of goals… but he’s the most important player on our team,” Raphinha said.

Pedri, who joined Barcelona from Las Palmas in 2020, quickly made an impact. Former sporting director Ramon Planes once revealed that even Lionel Messi was stunned by Pedri’s talent after just a few training sessions.

“In the second session, Messi asked, ‘Where did we get this kid?’” Planes recalled. “I told his agent right away  forget the loan. He’s staying.”

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos also praised Pedri, calling him “the best in the world in his position.”

“Pedri offers solutions. He can dribble past players in tight spaces — something very few midfielders can do,” Kroos told Mundo Deportivo.

With such widespread admiration, it’s no surprise that Szczesny believes Pedri deserves the Ballon d’Or.