Barcelona Defender Pau Cubarsí Wins 2026 Golden Boy Award
Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsí, aged 19, has claimed Tuttosport’s 2026 Golden Boy award for Europe’s best under-21 player, achieving a remarkable victory with a wide margin. The accolade recognizes a defender in a category typically dominated by attackers and reinforces Barcelona’s status as the club with the most winners of this prestigious honor.
This year’s voting underscored Cubarsí’s dominance, as no other candidate closely rivaled the Barcelona defender’s impressive performance. This victory is particularly notable, as it marks only the second time a defender has won the award, following the success of PSG’s Désiré Doué in 2025.
Barcelona Moves Ahead of Dortmund and United
Cubarsí’s win adds him to a distinguished list of Barcelona players, which includes icons such as Messi, Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal. Impressively, four of these five awards have been won in the past six years, with Pedri winning in 2021, Gavi in 2022, and Lamine Yamal in 2024.
As no player can receive the Golden Boy award twice, each Barcelona victory highlights the emergence of new, talented players within the club. This ongoing success points to a strong pipeline of young talent progressing to the first team.
Recognition for Barcelona’s Broader Success
The award caps an outstanding year for Cubarsí, who played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s triumphs in LaLiga and the Super Cup. He also earned the title of young player of the tournament during Spain’s World Cup victory, where he participated in all eight matches. Notably, he became the first defender to receive FIFA’s Young Player Award. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final, maintaining seven clean sheets and allowing just one goal during the tournament.
Cubarsí’s Golden Boy achievement comes shortly after he narrowly missed out on the Kopa Trophy, further enhancing his profile in European football.
A Successful Evening for Barcelona
Cubarsí was not the only name from Barcelona celebrated at the awards. The club also saw Joan Laporta receive the Best President award, while Giulia Galli from Barça Femení B was honored with the Best Italian Golden Girl prize. Additionally, Jorge Mendes was awarded Best Agent.
Laporta sharing the spotlight with Cubarsí emphasizes the club’s achievements across various levels, including recognition for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The timing of these accolades aligns well with the current standings, as Barcelona sits atop LaLiga and prepares for an important match against England with the national team. For Cubarsí, this recognition signifies personal achievement in a season filled with team accomplishments.
The awards will be officially presented at a ceremony in Turin on December 14, where all three Barcelona honors will be formally acknowledged.
