Pau Cubarsi, the 19-year-old central defender who has been a standout for both the Spanish national team and Football Club (FC) Barcelona, has secured a spot on the shortlist for this year’s Golden Boy award. After his impressive showing in the 2026 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup, Cubarsi has emerged as a frontrunner for the prestigious honor.
Italian sports publication Tuttosport unveiled the list of 25 finalists for the Golden Boy award on Tuesday.
The Golden Boy award, presented annually by Tuttosport, recognizes the most exceptional under-21 player competing for European clubs.
This year’s impressive lineup of finalists includes Cubarsi, alongside Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande and Endrick, Manchester City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Chelsea’s Esteban.
Bayern Munich’s young sensation, Lennart Karl, born in 2008, has also made the cut. Karl has rapidly become a key player for Bayern’s first team, notching 9 goals and 8 assists in 40 official matches during the 2025-26 season. He has also earned his debut for the German national team, making him the youngest player among the 25 finalists.
Among these talented nominees, Cubarsi stands out as the leading contender. His contributions were crucial to Barcelona’s La Liga triumph and Spain’s World Cup victory. His exceptional performances throughout the World Cup, which earned him the tournament’s Young Player Award, have significantly bolstered his chances.
Barcelona boasts a total of three players in the final nomination list, with Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart joining Cubarsi.
Last year’s Golden Boy award went to PSG’s Désiré Doué. While Doué is in the running again this year, he has been excluded from the final nominees due to the rule preventing previous winners from claiming the Golden Boy award twice.
For the same reason, 2024 winner Lamine Yamal is also absent from this year’s list.
The winner will be determined through a vote by an international panel of journalists from 50 European media outlets. The announcement is scheduled to take place at a ceremony in Turin, Italy, this November.
