Pedri’s father wanted to be a professional goalkeeper. He was about to make his debut in the third division when the death of his own father forced him to give up everything for the family business.
That dream was left unfinished forever, but Pedri never forgot it. Since he started winning titles, he has repeated the same ritual: he stays on the pitch, asks his father to stand between the posts, and takes a penalty against him. Then comes the hug that says it all.
Today, having just been crowned World Champion with Spain, he did it again. The boy who dreamed of being a goalkeeper ended up saving penalties from his world champion son. Football gave his father back, if only for a second, what life had taken away from him.