Pau Cubarsi named Golden Boy for 2026

Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi has been officially named the winner of the 2026 Golden Boy award by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport. The accolade recognizes the best football talent under the age of 21 competing in Europe, honoring his significant contributions over the past year.

Cubarsi's recognition follows a remarkable season in which he secured the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup with his club. Furthermore, he played a crucial role in Spain's victory at the 2026 World Cup, where he was also recognized as the best young player of the tournament. The final shortlist for this year’s award included notable talents Konstantinos Karetsas and Babis Kostoulas, both of whom featured among the top 25 nominees.

This award adds Cubarsi to a distinguished list of recent recipients, following Desire Doue in 2025 and Jude Bellingham in 2023. Other notable Spanish winners in recent years include Lamine Yamal in 2024, as well as Gavi and Pedri, who secured the honor in 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Golden Boy award remains one of the most prestigious individual honors for emerging professional footballers.