Barcelona centre-back Pau Cubarsí has been named the 2026 Golden Boy, the award given by Italian newspaper Tuttosport to the best young footballer playing in Europe. The 19-year-old won by a wide margin, collecting 475 of a possible 500 points, according to Football España.
Cubarsí succeeds Paris Saint-Germain’s Désiré Doué, who won the award in 2025. The prize will be formally presented at a ceremony in Turin on 14 December.
A rare win for a defender
Cubarsí is only the second centre-back to win it, after Matthijs de Ligt in 2018, Yahoo Sports reported, citing Barca Universal.
His selection follows a standout 2026. He started all eight of Spain’s matches at the FIFA World Cup in North America, where Spain won the title, and he was named the tournament’s best young player. Football España noted that he was the first defender to receive that FIFA award.
At club level, Yahoo Sports reported that the La Masia graduate was a key part of the Barcelona side that won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in 2025/26.
Weeks before the Golden Boy announcement, Cubarsí narrowly missed out on the Kopa Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for young players. Yahoo Sports reported that it went to his Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal.
Quick facts
- Award: 2026 Golden Boy, organised by Tuttosport
- Winner: Pau Cubarsí, 19, Barcelona and Spain
- Points: 475 out of 500 (Football España)
- Previous winner: Désiré Doué (PSG), 2025
- Ceremony: 14 December 2026, Turin
Barcelona’s growing Golden Boy record
Cubarsí becomes the fifth Barcelona player to win the award. He follows Lionel Messi, Pedri in 2021, Gavi in 2022 and Lamine Yamal in 2024. Football España reported that the win moves Barcelona two clear of Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United as the most successful club in the award’s history.
Barcelona figures also collected other prizes from Tuttosport on the same day. Club president Joan Laporta was named Best President, and Giulia Galli of Barça Femení B was named Best Italian Golden Girl, according to Football España.
Spain’s World Cup run
Football España reported that the team kept seven clean sheets and conceded only once, in a 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium, before beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. Cubarsí started every one of those eight matches.
Yahoo Sports said he beat 24 other shortlisted candidates for the Golden Boy by a large majority. Football España quoted Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport as describing him as only the second defender to take the prize.
Who can win the Golden Boy
The award is open to players under 21 who play in one of Europe’s top leagues, according to ESPN. The trophy and the other awards announced alongside it, including those for Laporta and Galli, become official at the Turin ceremony next month.
Football fans in the region have also been following other milestones this month, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement from Portugal duty.
Sources: Football España, Yahoo Sports, ESPN
