FC Barcelona are increasingly convinced that Pau Cubarsí has the credentials to compete for a future Ballon d’Or, with his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup serving as the catalyst for that belief. According to Marca, club executives regard the 19-year-old as a generational talent capable of defying historical trends to become only the fourth defender ever to claim football’s top individual prize.
Cubarsí played every minute of Spain’s title-winning campaign at the 2026 World Cup, anchoring a defence that conceded just a single goal across the entire tournament – a De Ketelaere strike in the quarter-final against Belgium. He earned the tournament’s Best Young Player award for his efforts, posting 24 recoveries, a 96% passing accuracy, and six clean sheets across the competition, forming a formidable partnership with Aymeric Laporte throughout. Spain’s Barcelona-heavy contingent was central to that defensive solidity.
Barca executives believe Cubarsí can become only the fourth defender in history to win the Ballon d’Or, joining Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer, and Fabio Cannavaro – the last centre-back to claim the award, in 2006. The statistical comparison with Cannavaro is notable: the Italian posted 29 recoveries, 84% passing accuracy, and five clean sheets at that World Cup, numbers Cubarsí matched or surpassed two decades later.
The broader context strengthens his case. Cubarsí has been at the heart of Barcelona’s backline over recent seasons, playing a pivotal role in back-to-back La Liga titles, and his World Cup triumph adds significant international substance to that club-level record. Since Cannavaro lifted the award in 2006, no defender has managed to win the Ballon d’Or – a run that makes Cubarsí’s challenge considerable, given that it is not enough to be the best defender in the world but to have such a decisive impact that voters cannot overlook his performances.
That said, Cubarsí is not the frontrunner. His Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal holds that position in early assessments. Cubarsí is also a frontrunner for the Kopa Trophy. Both races will serve as a measure of the recognition his World Cup performances have earned him among voters.
