According to a report by GOAL on Monday, November 9, 2026, Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi has been crowned the 2026 Golden Boy winner after an outstanding year for club and country.

The 19-year-old centre-back claimed the prestigious individual award ahead of several highly rated young footballers across Europe, further highlighting Barcelona's reputation for developing some of the continent's finest talents.

Cubarsi emerged victorious following a voting process involving an international jury of 50 journalists representing leading European media organisations.

The Barcelona defender was selected from a final shortlist of 25 players, which had been reduced from an initial list of 100 candidates announced earlier this year.

His competitors included Real Madrid youngsters Endrick and Yan Diomande, Chelsea forward Estevao and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery.

Cubarsi also finished ahead of his Barcelona teammates Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart, who were among the nominees for the prestigious recognition.

His victory comes after an impressive campaign under manager Hansi Flick, during which he played an important role in Barcelona's successful pursuit of the La Liga title and Spanish Super Cup.

The Spanish international also enjoyed success with his national team, helping Spain win the recent international tournament after featuring prominently throughout the competition.

Cubarsi started in the final and received the award for the best young player of the tournament, further strengthening his reputation as one of the most promising defenders in European football.

His performances also earned him a nomination for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, where he finished 12th in the overall rankings.

The defender narrowly missed out on another individual recognition at the ceremony in London, finishing second in the Men's Young Talent of the Year category with 94 points. His Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal won the award with 96 points.

Cubarsi now becomes the fifth Barcelona player to win the Golden Boy award, joining an impressive list featuring Lionel Messi, who claimed the honour in 2005, Pedri in 2021, Gavi in 2022 and Yamal in 2024.

He will officially receive the trophy during the award ceremony scheduled to take place in Turin on December 14. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old continues to establish himself as an important member of Flick's defensive setup.

Cubarsi has made 13 appearances across all competitions this season, registering two assists. He was also involved in Barcelona's 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, a result that helped the Catalan giants strengthen their position at the top of La Liga with 33 points, three ahead of second-placed Real Madrid.