Barcelona Prodigy Pau Cubarsí Crowned 2026 Golden Boy

Barcelona’s 19-year-old defensive sensation Pau Cubarsí has officially won the 2026 Golden Boy award, established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport to honor Europe's best under-21 footballer. Cubarsí claimed the prestigious prize with an overwhelming 475 out of 500 points, succeeding his teammate Lamine Yamal.

The La Masia graduate enjoyed a historic calendar year, most notably anchoring the defense for Spain during their triumphant 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, where he was also named the tournament's Best Young Player. At club level, Cubarsí cemented his status as an indispensable pillar in Barcelona’s backline, blending mature tactical awareness with elite ball-distribution skills.

With this victory, Cubarsí becomes only the second central defender in the award's 24-year history to lift the trophy, joining Matthijs de Ligt in 2018. Furthermore, he is the fifth Barcelona player to win the honor, following Lionel Messi, Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal. Cubarsí finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Ousmane Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaïre-Emery. The young Spaniard will officially receive his award at the gala ceremony in Turin on December 14.