Looking out at Dallas’s legendary Cotton Bowl, a nearly century-old stadium that hosted Spain vs South Korea at the 1994 World Cup, when he was not even born, Pedri, the magician of Spanish football, spoke to AS two days before La Roja’s round-of-16 clash with Portugal, with the kind of smile that suggests something special is brewing. These are days for dreaming big. Ladies and gentlemen, one of the finest midfielders on the planet:

Your prediction that Cape Verde would be the surprise package of the World Cup has gone viral. What does their performance say about how competitive this tournament has been?

It’s been a very difficult, very tightly contested World Cup. A lot of teams that were considered favorites on paper have gone behind in games, whether they came back to win or not. The level has been extremely high across the board, and you can clearly see that. I have to congratulate Cape Verde - they’ve had a spectacular World Cup. They haven’t lost a single match in regulation time.

Tell us: what’s your first World Cup memory, and which player made the biggest impression on you as a kid?

The one I remember most is the one Spain won. I was eight years old, and I can remember a few matches, especially the final. Everybody remembers that one, of course. And I’d have to say [Andrés] Iniesta. I watched him closely from a very young age, and on top of that, he scored the goal that made an entire country happy. I’ll go with him.

Luis Enrique doesn’t usually single players out, but he made an exception with you: “He reminds me of Andrés.” Can you picture yourself scoring a goal like Iniesta’s?

(Smiles) I’ve dreamed about it. I’ve dreamed about it many times. Everyone here in camp has dreamed of scoring that goal. But there’s still a long way to go before even thinking about a possible final. We have to stay grounded. The next knockout game will be difficult, and we need to stay calm.

You know firsthand what a World Cup knockout match means. What lessons did Qatar leave you with, both personally and as a group?

More than anything, the importance of small details. There are so many of them in a game, and they make all the difference. One simple mistake can send you home - that’s how a World Cup works. You have to stay focused for all 90 minutes because the game can change in an instant, and suddenly you’re either going home or moving on.

According to Transfermarkt, the combined value of the Spain and Portugal squads exceeds $2 billion. Is this almost too big a matchup for a World Cup round of 16?

It’s true that we’re talking about two major national teams, both capable of winning the World Cup. We’re among the favorites. They’re a powerhouse, and I think it’s going to be very tough. Obviously, we want to advance no matter what, so it should be a great match and a very close one.

You also met in the Nations League final in Munich. Have you gone back and watched it?

No, not yet, but we’ll analyse it now with the coach and the analysts. We’ll look at what needs correcting, what we’ve improved and what still needs improving. There are always things to improve, and we have to remember we lost that final. We want to put that right at the World Cup.

There will be a lot of talk about the Pedri vs Vitinha matchup (Pedri smiles). You’ve faced each other many times, including in the Champions League this year. How do you rate him, and what would you take from his game?

Vitinha is world class, especially with the ball, in the way he controls the tempo of the game. Whenever I’ve played against him, I’ve been surprised by how much he runs. He’s never standing still. He always finds the free teammate with his passing and, as I said, he’s top class. He’s one of the best central midfielders in the world.

Vitinha runs a lot, but so do you. In some games, you cover more than eight miles.

(Smiles) Always. My father once told me something that stuck with me: “If things aren’t going your way, if you’re not playing well, at least run and work for the team.” I always try to live by that. I love working for the team, winning the ball back. And even if I don’t win it, just making the effort helps the team. You can really see with this national team that we run for each other, not for ourselves.

People think of you as a creative midfielder, and you do lead the team in passes played into the final third. But you’re also the player who has recovered the most balls in that area. Do you see yourself more as a complete midfielder than simply a magician waving a wand?

I try to do a little bit of everything, to cover every aspect of the game. I focus on what the team needs, not just on creating plays. We’ve got Lamine [Yamal] for that - he can create something out of absolutely nothing (smiles). If I see a pass, I’ll try it, but I’m more focused on helping the team than on producing a highlight.

When you won the Golden Boy award in 2021, you didn’t want much celebration because you’ve never been comfortable with the spotlight and have always prioritized the collective. But speaking of dreams - and of Iniesta’s goal - is the Ballon d’Or one of your dreams as well?

Everyone dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or. Anyone who dedicates their life to this sport does. It’s an individual award and I prefer winning team trophies, but I think if you asked any player in the national team, they’d tell you they’d love to win a Ballon d’Or. Although we already have one (laughs)...

You’ve been in camp here in the United States for a month now. This country also marked a turning point in your career. Researchers at the University of Baltimore analyzed your muscle fibers and, let’s say, things got better from that point on. Last season you were flying, and you’ve just completed another outstanding year. Do you see that as a turning point in your career?

Well, yes. Some people say it was because of that. Honestly, I don’t know, and I’ll probably never know, why the injuries happened. We’ll never really know. It’s true that we started changing certain things and trying to identify whether there was an underlying issue. You keep adjusting things until you find what works best for you physically, and that’s what happened. Right now, I’m feeling great and very happy with my physical condition. Hopefully it stays that way for many years.

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has clearly had a major impact on you since arriving at the club. He’s asked you to be a leader, something you’ve acknowledged and embraced naturally. Is there anything he’s asked of you that previous coaches didn’t?

More than anything, he started using me deeper in the buildup so I could be constantly involved with the ball. Luis Enrique, for example, also wanted me dropping deep, touching the ball often, and feeling comfortable in those areas. But Flick changed my position on the field and, above all, brought a mentality of winning and competing. That’s what he’s really changed. He transformed the team’s mentality. We have to thank him for that - he’s changed Barcelona’s mindset.

Mikel Oyarzabal told us that people need to believe in this Spain team. Dani Olmo said it’s time to stitch a second star onto the shirt. Marc Cucurella went even further: “We can be unstoppable.” What message would you send to La Roja’s fans, and what would the headline be?

Above all, trust us. With every round we advance, we’ll become even stronger. The confidence we have within this team is incredible.

Your breakthrough came alongside Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Have you been following his World Cup? And speaking of dreams, would you like to play a World Cup final against him?

That would be an unbelievable dream because it would mean we’ve reached the World Cup final. That would be a very good sign. I’m enjoying watching him. I enjoyed training with him, and what he’s doing now is incredible. The things he’s still capable of at his age are only possible because of the quality he has. For me, he’s the greatest player in history.

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