Barcelona and Spain centre-back Pau Cubarsí becomes only the second defender to win the European Golden Boy award after a successful season.

Published 9 Nov 2026, 21:04 GMT

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Pau Cubarsí, winner of the 2026 Golden Boy award — Pau Cubarsí, 2026 Golden Boy

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Barcelona and Spain defender Pau Cubarsí has won the 2026 Golden Boy award, recognising the best Under-21 footballer playing for a European club.

Italian sports daily Tuttosport announced the 19-year-old as the winner on Monday at the Mapei Football Center in Sassuolo, ahead of the formal trophy presentation in Turin on Monday, December 14.

Cubarsí topped the 25-player shortlist nearly 250 points clear of runner-up Yan Diomande of Real Madrid, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery finished third. He succeeds PSG forward Désiré Doué, who claimed the 2025 Golden Boy trophy.

The centre-back becomes only the second defender in the award's 24 editions to lift the prize, following Matthijs de Ligt in 2018, and the fifth FC Barcelona player honoured after Lionel Messi, 2021 winner Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal.

Cubarsí made 48 appearances, including 45 starts, during Barcelona's 2025/26 campaign, which brought both the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga trophies.

He then played every minute of all eight matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, earning the FIFA Young Player Award.

In the other categories announced in Sassuolo, Real Madrid's Felicia Schröder won the Golden Girl Absolute Best award, Crystal Palace's Honest Ahanor was named Best Italian Golden Boy, and Barcelona's Giulia Galli won Best Italian Golden Girl.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

Barcelona&#39;s Pau Cubarsí wins 2026 Golden Boy award after World Cup and La Liga triumphs

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