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Pau Cubarsí

Centre-back, FC Barcelona & Spain

Sports Spain Hall No. 30

Profile

Why they shine

Pau Cubarsí was 19 years and 178 days old when he started the 2026 World Cup final, the fourth-youngest player ever to appear in one, behind only Pelé, Giuseppe Bergomi and his own teammate Lamine Yamal. He played all eight matches in full, completed 668 of 690 passes at a 97 per cent success rate, and made the clearance in the 120th minute that denied Argentina's Marcos Senesi. Barcelona's number 5 had already made 48 appearances in 2025-26 and debuted for Spain at 17, the youngest defender in the national team's history.

Full name: Pau Cubarsí Martí
Nationality: Spain
Club (2026): FC Barcelona
Position: Centre-back
2026 World Cup: Best young player — 8 starts, 668 passes completed
World Cup 2026: Champions — Spain's second title, 1 goal conceded

Record

Honor record

FIFA Young Player Award

2026 · Jul 19, 2026

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Named the tournament's best young player after starting all eight matches. At 19 years and 178 days he was the fourth-youngest player in a World Cup final, and he completed 121 passes in the match itself, one of only three players ever to pass 100 in a final. His 668 completed passes across the tournament were second only to his teammate Rodri.

FIFA World Cup

2026 · Jul 19, 2026

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Spain's second world title in sixteen years, and the defender played every minute of it. Cubarsí partnered a back four that kept seven clean sheets and conceded once, and his block on Senesi in the 120th minute preserved the 1-0 lead in the final. He had debuted for Spain at 17 years and one month, the youngest defender in the national team's history.

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