--- title: "Pau Cubarsí named Golden Boy 2026: The defender cementing Barcelona and Spain’s dominance" description: "19-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has won the Golden Boy 2026 award, becoming the fifth representative of the Catalan club to receive the honor and only the second defender in its history." date: 2026-11-09T18:51:48.618Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/pau-cubarsi-golden-boy-2026-barcelona tags: [pau-cubarsi, golden-boy, barcelona, spain, football-awards] author: "Dmitriy Shatolov" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Pau Cubarsí named Golden Boy 2026: The defender cementing Barcelona and Spain’s dominance ![Barcelona player Pau Cubarsí in a light blue kit dribbling on the pitch](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/09/pau-kubarsi-golden-boy-2026-barcelona/pau-kubarsi-golden-boy-2026-barcelona-1.webp) ## Key Points - Pau Cubarsí (19, Barcelona) received the Golden Boy 2026 award, presented by Tuttosport to the best European player under 21. - He is the fifth Barcelona player in the award's history, following Messi, Pedri, Gavi, and Yamal. - A successful year: the Spaniard won La Liga and the Super Cup with Barcelona and the 2026 World Cup with Spain, where he was named Best Young Player. - Cubarsí is only the second defender in Golden Boy history after Matthijs de Ligt (2018). - Spain, with six awards, has strengthened its lead in the national ranking. 19-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has been awarded the prestigious Golden Boy 2026 prize, presented annually by the Italian publication Tuttosport to the best football player in Europe under 21. The Spaniard's victory marks the fifth triumph for a representative of the Catalan club in the award's history and only the second time a defensive player has received the prize. This is reported by [Sport RBC.UA](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/zahisnik-zamist-zirkovogo-forvarda-komu-distavsya-1794250061.html), citing Barcelona's official X account. ### An award for a stellar year For Cubarsí, the award is a natural recognition of one of the most successful seasons in his career. With Barcelona, the Spaniard won the La Liga title and the domestic Super Cup, and on the international stage, he celebrated victory with the national team at the 2026 World Cup. During the tournament, the defender was one of the key players of a team that conceded only one goal throughout the event. FIFA specifically noted his individual mastery, awarding Cubarsí the prize for the best young player of the World Cup. ### Barcelona's dynasty in the award With Cubarsí's victory, Barcelona has taken sole control of the historical Golden Boy club ranking, reaching five awards. Previous laureates include Lionel Messi (2005), Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022), and Lamine Yamal (2024). The recent history of the award is particularly telling: four of the last six winners represented either Spain or Barcelona, highlighting the Catalan club's sustained dominance in shaping the next generation of stars. ### Spain strengthens its lead in the national ranking Thanks to Cubarsí's win, Spain has strengthened its lead in the award's national ranking: the country now boasts six Golden Boy awards. In the club standings, Barcelona, with five wins, is ahead of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United (three each), as well as PSG, Ajax, Atlético, Monaco, and Benfica (two each). Thus, Spanish football and its flagship club continue to set the tone for youth-level football in Europe. ### A rare occurrence: A defender in the award's history The winner's position deserves special attention. Cubarsí is only the second defender in the history of the Golden Boy award; the previous recipient was Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt in 2018, who was playing for Ajax at the time. In an award traditionally associated with attacking players, the victory of a defensive player underscores the high level of the Spaniard's performances last year. In the same article, the source also mentions the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner, who ended his country's 25-year streak of failures in that award, further emphasizing how rich the current season has been in individual honors. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Защитник вместо звездного форварда: кому достался Golden Boy-2026](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/zahisnik-zamist-zirkovogo-forvarda-komu-distavsya-1794250061.html) - Source: Cubarsí's win, status as 5th Barca representative, 2nd defender in history, stats on club/national rankings, yearly achievements (La Liga, Super Cup, WC 2026). ## FAQ ### Who won the Golden Boy 2026 award? 19-year-old Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí. ### How many Barcelona representatives have received this award? Five: Lionel Messi (2005), Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022), Lamine Yamal (2024), and Pau Cubarsí (2026). ### Is Cubarsí the first defender in the award's history? No, he is the second. Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax) received the Golden Boy award in 2018. ### What achievements earned Cubarsí the award? Winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona, the 2026 World Cup with the Spanish national team, and the FIFA Best Young Player award.