Pau Cubarsí is the 2026 Golden Boy winner. The Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport announced on Monday that the Spanish world champion had received 475 out of a possible 500 points, finishing comfortably ahead of Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaïre-Emery. Cubarsí is an unusual winner for his position: since the award was established in 2003, it has overwhelmingly gone to attacking players and midfielders.
A landslide victory in the voting
The winners were announced at an event at the Mapei Football Center in Sassuolo. Cubarsí finished almost 250 points clear of runner-up Diomande, with the award decided by an international jury of sports journalists.
In a video message, the Spaniard thanked the jury, his family and his teammates. He reserved particular praise for the support he had received at Barcelona and within the Spanish national team, acknowledging their contribution to his achievements.
The official awards ceremony will take place in Turin on 14 December, when Cubarsí is expected to collect his trophy in person.
A World Cup winner at 19 – with just one goal conceded
Cubarsí started all eight of Spain’s matches at last summer’s World Cup and played every minute of the tournament.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final to claim their second World Cup title. Their defensive record was extraordinary: Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded just once in eight matches, keeping seven clean sheets.
Cubarsí partnered Aymeric Laporte in central defence and was named the tournament’s best young player by FIFA. He also became the first defender to receive that individual World Cup honour.
His club season was equally successful. Cubarsí won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona. He made 48 appearances across all competitions, starting 45 of them, and established himself as a fixture in Hansi Flick’s side.
What makes Cubarsí so important to Barcelona?
Cubarsí is a product of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, which he joined in 2018 at the age of eleven. He made his first-team debut in January 2024, just days before his 17th birthday.
His greatest strength is his reading of the game. The 19-year-old anticipates opposition runs, defends intelligently through his positioning and rarely loses his composure, even under considerable pressure.
His ability on the ball is equally important. Cubarsí regularly breaks opposition pressing lines with accurate passes through midfield and helps Barcelona build attacks from deep. Flick’s system, with its high defensive line, also demands excellent timing and quick decision-making, two qualities the young Spaniard possesses in abundance.
On Monday, Cubarsí also earned his first place in the FIFPRO World 11. The annual team is selected by professional footballers from around the world, with 19,806 players from 73 countries taking part in this year’s vote.
Following in the footsteps of Messi, Mbappé and Haaland
The Golden Boy award has been presented annually since 2003. Its most celebrated former winners include Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005), Kylian Mbappé (2017), Erling Haaland (2020) and Jude Bellingham (2023). Paris Saint-Germain’s Désiré Doué claimed the prize last year.
Cubarsí is only the second defender to win the award. The previous one was Matthijs de Ligt, who received the honour in 2018 while playing for Ajax.
Barcelona have now produced five Golden Boy winners. Cubarsí follows Messi, Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022) and Lamine Yamal (2024), giving the Catalan club more winners than any other European side. Yamal was ineligible to compete again this year because the award can only be won once.
Haaland and Schröder also among the winners
Several other awards were announced alongside Cubarsí’s victory. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland was named the best established player, while Real Madrid’s Swedish forward Felicia Schröder received the award for Europe’s best under-21 female footballer.
Crystal Palace’s Honest Ahanor was named the best young Italian player, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta received the award for best club president.
