Messi loves Pedri, the wonderkid compared with Iniesta who lit up Euro semi-final

That's Pedro Gonzalez Lopez who, at 18 years old, just lit up Euro 2020 and dazzled in the semi-final despite his nation's defeat against Italy.

In the 90 minutes, he completed each of the 55 passes he attempted. The most successful passes completed at Euro 2020 with misplacing a single one.

Even though Spain eventually lost 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time, England legend Stuart Pearce gave Pedri 'Man of the Match'.

Although he is so young, we shouldn't be surprised after a stunning club campaign from the teenager at the Nou Camp. He didn't just break into the first-team, he made 52 appearances across all competitions.

In doing so he became the second youngest player to reach 50 for the Catalan giants - behind Bojan Krkic and ahead of Lionel Messi - some feat.

Speaking of the Argentine, what does he think of this whippersnapper coming into the Camp Nou and lighting the place up?

Well, he loves playing with him and nothing displays that more than Messi's record-breaking 644th goal for Barcelona.

No man has scored more goals for one single professional club as he pipped Pele's record at Santos.

The clinching strike, which came away at Valladolid and in a typically flowing Barcelona move, saw Pedri lay the ball into his teammate's path with a delectable back-heel.

Perhaps it's no wonder Messi is thinking twice about leaving Barcelona when this youngster is building a connection with him.

Oh, did we mention he only cost an initial £4million when he moved from Las Palmas? Sure, it might go up to a reported £25m but he sure looks like he's worth it. Not that the player may necessarily feel it within himself sometimes.

Las Palmas manager Pepe Mel said of the starlet: "There goes a millionaire who doesn't know it.

"He's not going to score 15 a season but everyone will grow around him. He knows exactly what every one of his teammates needs and always makes good decisions."

He's not wrong either, his teammates are loving what he's doing for him and for Messi.

"Pedri plays with his head up," French ace Lenglet said. "He doesn't have the body of an elite athlete but his head works faster than the rest. He has a special feeling with Messi."

Manager Ronald Koeman added: "Messi is happy, you can see. He plays better with good players around him. Pedri is good between the lines and combines well with Leo."

Arsenal legend and former Spain international Cesc Fabregas, who helped his country win Euro 2012 has also been impressed by Pedri.

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"He started a little slowly but like the team he is growing into a tournament," Fabregas told talkSPORT.

"He played a fantastic season for Barcelona. He is only 18, we cannot forget that. He is a special talent and I think he will be a special talent in the near future

"What I like is the confidence that he has got. He was always asking for the ball. Okay, sometimes he can be better, sometimes he can make other decisions but I believe that he is showing always for the ball.

"In difficult moments he is there to be available and this is what I like. It is his personality."

Messi makes Pedri happy too, it must be easy for footballers to lose the childlike thoughts and expressions of awe when you train with an idol every day - not this talented teen.

Asked what it was like being alongside the 33-year-old, he replied. "I enjoy it; to see him and what he is capable of doing. It is like that in games and in training sessions. Being able to share moments with him is incredible. I always look for him on the pitch because he always knows what he is doing.

"He has always tried to find me and tells me to put myself between the lines because he is going to find me. I look for him, I give him passes because he is the one who can create danger."

And now, this rough diamond, already taking on considerable shape - and compared to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta thanks to both his skills and his positioning on the pitch - has to come to the fore for Spain.

The man who discovered Iniesta, Albert Benaiges, finds it hard not to compare Pedri with the Barcelona icon.

"He is intelligent. Technically he is very good and although he is not aggressive he works hard. In that sense he is a lot like Andres. And they are alike in the way they are as people. They way the get along with team-mates inside the dressing room."

What's his best role? Allow him to explain: "It is good to play in several positions and help the team wherever I am needed," he added.

"I can create more danger as a second striker but I can play in other spots and work from there."

And danger is what Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Switzerland and Italy had to deal with when up against this superstar, who was one of the best midfielders at the tournament while Spain were in it.

He's always full of energy, even when he's playing table tennis — which he is very good at, by the way.

But don't even bother about thinking about signing him though, his release clause is already £361m.

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