Fermin Lopez: The Barcelona whizkid even Pedri is a fan of

Few of the 82,000 spectators who packed AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for Saturday's pre-season meeting between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid would have ever heard the name of Fermín López before taking their seats. But, the fans all left knowing they'd just witnessed the biggest moment so far in this rising star's career.

The 20-year-old grasped his opportunity after coming on as a 66th-minute substitute, blasting a cannonball past Thibaut Courtois before demonstrating his poise on the ball to set up a Ferran Torres goal and complete FC Barcelona's 3-0 win over their rivals.

Fermín López's strike was one of the best goals seen anywhere on the planet this pre-season and he passionately celebrated it in the corner of the Dallas Cowboys' stadium, aware that this moment was the culmination of years of hard work in the Catalan club's La Masia academy.

Speaking to the media after the match, he explained: "I've been a Culé since I was a kid. I didn't expect to get on today. Then, when I went on, I received the ball, saw the goal, went forward, struck the ball with all my soul and it went in. I'm living a dream. I can't believe what has just happened, but I have to keep working hard."

There was good reason, though, to believe that Fermín López would be given some minutes in the match against Real Madrid, as he'd already played 45 minutes in the LALIGA EA SPORTS champions' other warm-up game so far, when they faced Arsenal in California. It was also clear from the team's training sessions during their US tour that the academy graduate was one of the most impressive youngsters to have made the trip.

Pedri was one of the FC Barcelona stars to comment on the 20-year-old's quality even before FC Barcelona's first pre-season