The Elche crowd also bowed to Pedri González (22). The FC Barcelona midfielder was the undisputed leader of the Spanish national team in their 2-0 victory over Georgia, a win that moves Luis de la Fuente’s side closer to the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Pedri didn’t score, but he dictated everything else: the rhythm, the tempo, and the calm of a Spain side that, whenever it loses its way, looks to his boots as one would look for a familiar exit.
Pedri of Spain
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De la Fuente had already seen it clearly in Sofia, likely forced by the absences of Rodri and Fabián.
“He’s so good that he could play in multiple positions, but he gives us alternatives. What’s clear is that wherever he plays, he gives us so much. He’s one of the best players in the world,” the coach explained before the match against Bulgaria.
And now, with the Canary Islander at the base of the play, Spain has once again found balance between control and verticality.
Pedri relishes being the pivot of the game — the place where the ball passes and breathes, where he can lift his head, see the whole map, and choose the path. In Elche, he was exactly that: compass, metronome, and guide.
When the match became tangled and Spain grew anxious, desperate to score the second before the first, he asked for calm, gesturing with his arms. Just as Rodri had done against Georgia in the round of 16 at the Euros. And he was right.
From his boots came the move for the opener: a magical parabola, perfectly placed into the box, brought down elegantly by Le Normand before another Canary Islander, Yeremy Pino, slotted it home.
Beyond the scoreline, the goal symbolized the authority of a team that continues to grow from possession, with Pedri at its epicenter.
“When Pedri has the ball, things happen,” summarized goalscorer Yeremy Pino.
“He had already slipped two passes in behind. I saw Le Normand getting there and stayed alert. I’m very happy about the goal and hope we keep going like this.” The praise didn’t stop there.
“In every game I’ve played with the national team, people always give themselves over to him. He’s world-class, from the Canary Islands and Spanish. We must be very proud to have him,” the winger added.
The Elche fans also paid tribute to the magician of Tegueste. His name was the only one chanted several times from the stands, and the ovation that followed his substitution in the 75th minute was as loud as it was deserved. Not just for what he does, but for how he does it.
In his 74 minutes on the pitch, the Canary Islander was Spain’s creative engine: 95 touches, 5 key passes, and 88% passing accuracy (76 out of 86).
He also contributed defensively with 3 tackles, 5 recoveries, and 4 duels won out of 6. A complete performance that confirmed his fundamental role on the road to the 2026 World Cup.
“Does Pedri do anything wrong?” De la Fuente asked rhetorically after the match. “He brings composure and control. He’s capable of bringing out the best in his teammates, but he also has players around him who help him reach his best. He’s an exceptional footballer.”
Even the opposition recognized him. “Pedri provides solutions on the pitch: where to position himself, how to give options to teammates. He represents all of Spanish football. That’s why they just keep producing! They had six or seven absentees, and we didn’t notice any difference,” admitted Georgia’s coach Willy Sagnol.
“If you look at Pedri, he’s so light he could fly away if the wind blows, but he’s one of the best midfielders in the world because he’s so smart and always puts the team first.”
Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was even more direct: “Spain are an incredible team. When they have the ball, it’s impossible to take it away. Pedri is a master, he’s very, very good, and he has immense quality.”
Spain smiles with Pedri at the helm, and De la Fuente’s side continues to march step by step towards the World Cup — guided by the composure and magic of the national team’s No. 20, acclaimed wherever he goes.