'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='prefix__paint0_linear_4737_37157'%20x1='3.018'%20y1='23.6'%20x2='44.925'%20y2='24.977'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%231CB7FF'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='.502'%20stop-color='%232FF58B'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Pau Cubarsí wins 2026 Golden Boy award
Nov 09 2026 19:17 · Por onefootball.com · 11 Leituras
Pau Cubarsí has been named the winner of the 2026 Golden Boy award, recognising the best under-21 footballer playing in Europe.
The prestigious prize, organised by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, rewards the Barcelona defender following an outstanding year at both club and international level.
At just 19, Cubarsí has established himself as a key figure for Barcelona, helping the Catalan giants secure the 2025/26 Spanish league title. He has also become an important member of the Spanish national team, which enjoyed a successful 2026 World Cup campaign.
The defender finished ahead of several highly rated young talents, including Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ivorian Yan Diomande and French midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery.
Cubarsí also joins an exclusive group of defenders to have won the award. Before him, only Matthijs de Ligt, during his time at Ajax, had achieved the feat.
His triumph further highlights Barcelona's remarkable record in the competition. He becomes the fifth current or former Blaugrana star to win the prize, following Pedri (2021), Pablo Gavi (2022), Lamine Yamal (2024) and Lionel Messi (2005). He succeeds PSG's Désiré Doué, the 2025 winner.