Barcelona defender Cubarsi named 2026 Golden Boy winner

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí has won the 2026 Golden Boy award, given to the best Under-21 men’s player in the world.

The 19-year-old succeeds Paris Saint-Germain forward Désiré Doué and becomes the fourth Barcelona player to win the prize in the last six years.

Cubarsí follows in the footsteps of team-mates Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal, who have all previously claimed the award.

He is also the first defender to win the Golden Boy since Matthijs de Ligt, then of Ajax, was named the winner in 2018.

The award was established by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 and has previously been won by some of the biggest names in world football.

Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are among the former recipients of the prize.