Pau Cubarsí wins the Golden Boy 2026 award

Barcelona's 19-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsí has won the prestigious Golden Boy 2026 award, given to the best young footballer in Europe. Having won the World Cup with the Spain national team and the LaLiga title with Barcelona, the young defender has crowned a successful year with an individual triumph. With his value rising to 100 million euros, Cubarsí has taken his place among the most valuable defenders in the world. Barcelona, meanwhile, have now produced the Golden Boy winner for the fourth time since 2021.

In the awards, held since 2003, a jury of international experts chose Pau Cubarsí from 25 finalists as the best young footballer of 2026. Won last year by Paris Saint-Germain's Désiré Doué, the award has thus returned to Barcelona. At the Catalan club, Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022) and Lamine Yamal (2024) had previously achieved the same feat.

A product of the Barcelona academy, Cubarsí carried his consistent club form over to the Spain national team. The young centre-back played in every one of Spain's matches at the tournament on their way to winning the World Cup, without missing a single minute. After the tournament, Cubarsí's market value rose to 100 million euros, putting him joint top alongside Arsenal's William Saliba. Cubarsí also became only the second defender in Golden Boy history to win the award; the only one to do so before him was Matthijs de Ligt in 2018.

During the selection process, footballers born in 2006 or later and playing in Europe's 25 strongest leagues were assessed on criteria such as performance, potential, and league and club level. After the shortlist was narrowed down to 25 players, the winner was decided by the votes of the international jury.

In women's football, the Golden Girl 2026 award went to Felicia Schröder, the 19-year-old Swedish player who plays for Real Madrid.