Mundo Deportivo: Cubarsi Has Become Barcelona’s Defensive Leader and Is Expected to Win This Year’s Golden Boy Award

According to Mundo Deportivo, Cubarsi has maintained his outstanding performances, has become the core of Barcelona’s defense, and is expected to win the Golden Boy award.

Pau Cubarsi has maintained a top level for a long time, and we have become accustomed to it, although we actually should not take it for granted. As the best young player at the World Cup, he is even fully qualified to compete for the best player award in senior competitions. Cubarsi has continued the strong form he showed at the end of last season at the start of the 2026-27 season.

After a deserved summer break, the player from Estanyol quickly secured the starting right center-back role at Barcelona. There is no doubt, only complete certainty. He has become the undisputed commander of Hansi Flick’s defense, capable of making timely recoveries and breaking lines with astonishing vertical passes.

If Barcelona’s strong league start has been unstoppable, Cubarsi is one of the reasons. In the away match against Valencia, he once again delivered a textbook performance. When Gerard Martin had problems playing the ball out from the back, Cubarsi immediately covered for him and instructed the team to maintain a high defensive line while aggressively pushing up for the offside trap. He also provided two penetrating through passes with his own distinctive style.

For Flick, this Girona player is a gift. Over the course of the season, it remains to be seen who will secure the left-back position. Gerard Martin, who broke out at center-back last season, undoubtedly has a strong chance. However, Christensen has also been in excellent form in recent weeks, and if he can stay healthy and maintain regular playing time, he also deserves close attention.

Kounde is also part of this competition. Flick now prefers to use the French player in the center, while allowing Eric Garcia to operate as a wing-back, which is one of the main changes in Barcelona’s defensive setup.

Returning to Cubarsi, all signs indicate that, barring any surprises, he will win the Golden Boy award. He has been involved in the race for two consecutive years, but lost to Yamal and Doue respectively in the previous two editions, narrowly missing out on the prize.

The path looks much smoother this year, and Cubarsi is expected to lift the European Under-21 Player of the Year award. Considering everything he has done since making his debut at the age of 16, this award should belong to him. Especially at that impressive World Cup, he became an indispensable member of the Spain national team and helped the side win its second star.

Looking further ahead to the Ballon d’Or, it would not be unrealistic for Cubarsi to finish among the top-ranked candidates. There is already a debate over what achievements are required to compete for France Football magazine’s world best player award, and Mourinho’s comments have further intensified the discussion.

Regardless of the evaluation criteria used, this defender who developed at La Masia should be included among the leading Ballon d’Or candidates. His performance at the World Cup will be remembered for a long time, as will his displays leading Barcelona’s defense forward at the ages of 18 and 19. That Barcelona team won the league and the Spanish Super Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals.