Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has been named the winner of the Golden Boy award following a voting process by an international jury of 50 European journalists.
The 19-year-old center-back secured the prestigious Tuttosport accolade after overcoming 25 finalists selected from an initial list of 100 candidates. Goal.com reported that Cubarsi outpaced a high-profile field that included Real Madrid’s Endrick and Yan Diomande, Chelsea’s Estevao, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery.
Goal.com also noted that the young defender finished ahead of his own club teammates Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart in the final voting tallies. The victory extends Barcelona’s remarkable production line of elite talent straight out of La Masia.
Cubarsi arrives at the award following a trophy-laden campaign under Hansi Flick. The central defender played a fundamental role in helping Barcelona capture both the La Liga title and the Supercopa de España.
Cubarsi anchored Spain’s backline to a global tournament triumph over the summer, starting the final and earning the tournament’s best young player honors.
That summer surge also earned the teenager a nomination for the Ballon d’Or. At the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London—where Harry Kane claimed the primary prize—Cubarsi finished 12th in the overall voting.
In the voting for the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award in London, Cubarsi finished second with 94 points. He narrowly missed the top spot to teammate Lamine Yamal, who collected 96 points.
Cubarsi now enters an exclusive club as the fifth Barcelona player to claim the Golden Boy trophy. He joins a storied list of previous winners from the Catalan club that features Lionel Messi in 2005, Pedri in 2021, Gavi in 2022, and Yamal in 2024.
| Barcelona Winner | Award Year |
|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 2005 |
| Pedri | 2021 |
| Gavi | 2022 |
| Lamine Yamal | 2024 |
| Pau Cubarsi | 2026 |
Goal.com reported that Cubarsi will officially collect his trophy at the gala in Turin on December 14. Prior to the ceremony, the defender has already featured in 13 matches across all competitions this season for Barcelona, chipping in with two assists.
Most recently, Cubarsi started in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid. That result reinforced Barcelona’s grip on the summit of La Liga with 33 points, opening a three-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid.
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