Golden Boy Award 2026 goes to Cubarsi, with Ahanor Best Italian

Barcelona and Spain defender Pau Cubarsí has won the 2026 Golden Boy award, with Erling Haaland named Golden Player, Honest Ahanor Italian Golden Boy and Arsenal’s Italian Andrea Berta Best Executive.

The awards were announced today at the Mapei Football Center, marking the latest chapter in the history of the competition set up by Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport.

It was created in 2003 and assigned to the best Under-21 player in European football, voted for by a jury of 50 journalists from around the continent.

Previous winners include Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney, Alexandre Pato, Mario Balotelli, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal.

Cubarsí makes history as the first defender since Matthijs de Ligt in 2018 to win the Golden Boy award, he follows in the footsteps of last year’s winner Désiré Doué of France and Paris Saint-Germain.

Since 2018, there are also other categories in the Golden Boy awards to spread beyond the traditional remit.

Manchester City’s Haaland has been named Golden Player, with former Atalanta defender Ahanor, who is now on loan at Crystal Palace via Chelsea, received the award for Italian Golden Boy.

Giulia Galli is Best Italian Golden Girl, Felicia Schroder is European Golden Girl, and Alessia Russo of England and Arsenal is Golden Player Woman.

Barcelona’s Joan Laporta was named Best President, Arsenal’s Italian chief Andrea Berta is Best Executive, and Jorge Mendes Best Agent.