Pau Cubarsí is one of the twenty-five finalists for the Golden Boy award, organised by the Italian media outlet Tuttosport, which recognises the best footballer in the world under the age of 21. The centre-back is FC Barcelona’s sole representative on a list that does not include Lamine Yamal, the current holder of the award, due to the rule that prevents winners from retaining the title.

Cubarsí, who was also among last year’s finalists, is naturally one of the main favourites to win it this time after another outstanding season. The Barça centre back was an undisputed starter during Hansi Flick’s first campaign as coach, helping the team secure a domestic treble, and come within touching distance of the Champions League final.

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Since making his first-team debut, Cubarsí has continued to display a level of maturity rarely seen at his age and in such a demanding position. In fact, if he were to win the award, he would become only the second centre-back ever to do so, after Matthijs de Ligt achieved it with Ajax in 2018. He would also follow in the footsteps not only of Lamine Yamal, who won in 2024, but also three other Barça players who have lifted the trophy: Gavi (2022), Pedri (2021) and Leo Messi (2005).

The full list of 25 nominees is as follows:

  • Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona)
  • Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Kenan Yıldız (Juventus)
  • Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
  • Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Senny Mayulu (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
  • Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
  • Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)
  • Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
  • Estêvão (Chelsea)
  • Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP)
  • Victor Froholdt (FC Porto)
  • Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
  • Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen)
  • Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
  • Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur)
  • Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur)
  • Mamadou Sarr (RC Strasbourg)

  • Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)

And the five Wild Cards picked by Tuttosport staff:

  • Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
  • Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter)
  • Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool)
  • Aleksandar Stanković (Club Bruges)

  • Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)

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