Barcelona teenager Cubarsi wins Golden Boy award

Barcelona's teenage prodigy Pau Cubarsi claimed the prestigious Golden Boy award, marking a historic moment in the illustrious history of the accolade. The 19-year-old defender, who was only two months shy of his twentieth birthday at the time of the win, became the first defender to receive the award since Dutch sensation Matthijs de Ligt in 2018. This pious achievement makes Cubarsi only the second young defender to claim the Golden Boy award in the award's 20-year existence, which began in 2003.

Cubarsi's success can be attributed to his instrumental role in Spain's FIFA World Cup triumph. He was bestowed with the esteemed FIFA Young Player of the Tournament award for his outstanding performance during the competition. The Barcelona defender anchored the defense as the team secured a second consecutive La Liga title. The Golden Boy award, bestowed upon the best young player of a calendar year, is decided by journalistic votes and enforces eligibility for players under 21 who play in top European divisions.

Expressing his immense pride and gratitude, Cubarsi stated in a video broadcast by Tuttosport at the awards ceremony: "I'm very proud to receive the award and I thank all the people that voted for me. It's been a spectacular year and we're going for more." The 19-year-old acknowledged the challenges faced by defenders in terms of recognition, as their contribution to the game is not as visibly impactful as forwards, who score goals and provide assists.

However, Cubarsi maintained that their work is just as crucial, despite being less in the spotlight.

This remarkable achievement follows in the footsteps of Barcelona teammates Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Pedri, who have all won the Golden Boy award since 2021. The Golden Girl award was won by Real Madrid and Sweden forward Felicia Schroeder.