Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí won the 2026 Golden Boy award on November 9, 2026, becoming the second defender in history to receive the honour.
Cubarsí Secures European Prize
The 19-year-old centre-back secured the prize for the best under-21 player in European football following a vote by 50 journalists from across the continent, as reported by Football Italia. Italian newspaper Tuttosport established the award in 2003, with Massimo Franchi creating the accolade that honors emerging talents.
The victory was officially announced at a ceremony in Sassuolo on Monday, November 9. The competition organizers utilized a Benchmark list tracking output alongside five invitation cards held by the organising committee, narrowing an initial field of 100 candidates down to a 25-man shortlist.
Cubarsí collected the most votes from that 25-man shortlist, according to LiveScore. Other finalists on the list included Kerim Alajbegović, Marc Bernal, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Yan Diomande, Endrick, Xavi Espart, Estêvão, Victor Froholdt, Joane Gadou, Jorrel Hato, Finn Jeltsch, Lennart Karl, Konstantinos Karetsas, Charalampos Kostoulas, Eli Junior Kroupi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Saïd El Mala, Jon Martin, Franco Mastantuono, Rodrigo Mora, Gianluca Prestianni, Rayan, and Luka Vuskovic.
𝗣𝗔𝗨 𝗖𝗨𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗜, 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲✨ pic.twitter.com/y4LljnnhOg
I’m very proud to receive the award and I thank all the people that voted for me,
Cubarsí said in a video broadcast by Tuttosport at the awards ceremony, according to Sportstar.
Trophies Won This Season
This season, Cubarsí has made 13 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, providing two assists. During their campaign, he also participated in a 2-1 triumph against Atletico Madrid, allowing the Catalan club to solidify their leadership at the summit of the La Liga standings with 33 points, holding a three-point advantage over second-placed Real Madrid.
Beyond his club achievements, the teenager anchored the defence for Spain during a victorious World Cup campaign in North America, playing alongside Aymeric Laporte at the centre of La Roja’s defence under manager Luis de la Fuente. He started each of Spain’s eight games at the tournament.
Spain conceded only one goal across the entire tournament — coming in a quarter-final win over Belgium — according to Vanguard News.
Earlier in the year, the defender was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, placing 12th in the overall rankings at the ceremony in London where Harry Kane claimed the main award. The Barcelona defender also finished as runner-up for the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award with 94 points, narrowly missing out to teammate Lamine Yamal, who scooped the honor with 96 points.
Congratulations on making the FIFPRO World XI 2026, Cubarsí! 👏 pic.twitter.com/kxx58txhR5
It’s been a spectacular year and we’re going for more,
Cubarsí added in comments reported by Sportstar.
Rare Defensive Honour
He is only the second defender to win the award since its inception in 2003.
It’s harder for defenders to get recognition… we’re less in the spotlight,
Cubarsí told Reuters.
Perhaps our work isn’t as visible because, at the end of the day, the forwards score lots of goals, provide assists, play a more attractive style of football, are more eye-catching,
he explained to Reuters.
He joins previous Barcelona recipients Lionel Messi, Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal on the list of winners, representing La Masia graduates to claim the honour alongside Cesc Fàbregas, who won as an Arsenal player, according to GOAL. Real Madrid and Sweden forward Felicia Schroeder received the Golden Girl award, as reported by Sportstar.
Other honourets announced alongside the main prize included Erling Haaland as Golden Player, Honest Ahanor as Italian Golden Boy, Andrea Berta as Best Executive, Joan Laporta as Best President, and Jorge Mendes as Best Agent.
The official trophy presentation will take place at a gala in Turin on December 14, according to LiveScore.