Pedri charges to front of the pack in race to be named Golden Boy

They say that in football individual trophies are only possible when the team delivers. In Pedri's case, Euro 2020 is taking him closer and closer to the Golden Boy award.

The Barcelona midfielder went into the tournament as one of the candidates for the prize after a sensational debut season at Camp Nou.

His performances at this summer's finals have now accelerated him to the front of the pack and he is now considered the favourite, although the battle is still open.

The former Las Palmas player ended the season exhausted at Barça and the club handed him a mini-break before Euro 2020, allowing him to return home to Tenerife.

In his first season at the top level, Pedri exceeded all expectations, becoming a regular at Barça when he was still just 17 years old (he's now 18).

After recharging his batteries, he's taken that form in to the European Championships, where he's played 509 minutes of a possible 510.

There has been no shortage of praise from his coach, his teammates, the opposition, the media... It's not just his quality but his work rate as well -- he's ran more miles than anyone else at the tournament.

Spain are now in the semifinals and Pedri's now the leading candidate for the Golden Boy, won last year by Erling Haaland.

His great rival at the moment is Jude Bellingham, the England international. If the Three Lions win the trophy this summer and the Borussia Dortmund midfielder plays more in their remaining games, it could become close. However, he's only played 30 minutes at Euro 2020 so far.

As for their clubs, Pedri played 52 games last season (3,526 minutes), scoring four goals and setting up six as Barça won the Copa del Rey. Bellingham made 46 appearances (2,821 minutes) and scored the same amount of goals but gave two fewer assists, also winning the domestic cup.

Other candidates include Wirtz, Camavinga, Greenwood and Nuno Mendes, although they would all appear a long way behind Pedri.