Cubarsí leads 25-man Golden Boy 2026 shortlist with Bernal and Espart included
Pau Cubarsí is the frontrunner to win the Golden Boy 2026, the award given to the best under-21 footballer in the world. The 19-year-old Barcelona centre-back, a league champion with Barça and a World Cup winner with Spain, heads a 25-player shortlist that also features Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart.
Byvarela5 min read
Pau Cubarsí is the leading candidate to take home the Golden Boy 2026, the individual award that recognises the best under-21 footballer on the planet. The 19-year-old centre-back, a starter in the La Liga-winning FC Barcelona side and in Spain's World Cup-winning national team, has been included since Monday in the official list of 25 contenders for the trophy handed out by Tuttosport since 2003.
Cubarsí's status as the favourite does not come out of nowhere: his World Cup displays, capped by that miraculous goal-line clearance in extra time against Argentina, earned him the tournament's best young player award. That moment has become the strongest argument in his candidacy, a highlight that could prove decisive when the jury delivers its verdict.
The 25 official candidates for the Golden Boy 2026
At the Banca Ifis headquarters in Mestre, Villa Fürstenberg, the names competing for the prestigious award were officially announced. Alongside Cubarsí are other emerging stars of European football, although none with the favourite tag carried by the Catalan defender.
- Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona): overwhelming favourite after his World Cup heroics and a season as a regular starter.
- Marc Bernal (FC Barcelona): the Barça midfielder earns his place on the official shortlist on merit.
- Xavi Espart (FC Barcelona): a third academy graduate included thanks to a wild card.
- Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG) and Ayoub Bouaddi (Manchester City): the most serious opposition to the Spanish centre-back.
- The other wild cards: Charalampos Kostoulas, Joane Gadou, Rodrigo Mora and Franco Mastantuono.
Why Cubarsí could make history as a defender
If Cubarsí confirms expectations and wins the Golden Boy 2026, he will become the first defender to claim the trophy in its 23 editions. Until now, the award has mainly gone to forwards and attacking midfielders, which underlines the exceptional nature of the Barcelona centre-back's candidacy.
Regarded as the Ballon d'Or equivalent for young talent, the Golden Boy has had several major protagonists from FC Barcelona. Leo Messi won it in 2005, Pedri in 2021, Gavi in 2022 and Lamine Yamal in 2024. Cubarsí now aims to join that list and open an unprecedented path for defenders.
Lamine Yamal's absence and the award's rules explained
Many fans will wonder why Lamine Yamal is not among the candidates. The explanation lies in the competition's regulations: a player who has won the Golden Boy cannot win it again. The current FC Barcelona number 10 took the prize in 2024, which ruled him out of the 2025 list and also the 2026 shortlist, even though many observers already consider him the best footballer on the planet at just 19 years old.
How the Golden Boy 2026 winner is decided
Contenders for the trophy must play for a club in one of the 25 strongest top-division leagues in Europe. The selection process includes monthly reviews of the Football Benchmark index from May onwards, and the final shortlist is made up of the 20 highest-ranked players plus five wild cards.
An international jury of 50 sports journalists will be responsible for casting the final vote. The Golden Boy 2026 awards ceremony will take place in the Italian city of Turin between late November and early December.
Cubarsí's rivals: the rest of the Golden Boy contenders
Beyond the Barcelona centre-back, the list of the remaining 24 aspirants features young talents from across Europe. Among the standout names are Brighton duo Luka Vuskovic and Charalampos Kostoulas, PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, Real Madrid pair Yan Diomande and Enrick, and Chelsea representatives Jorrel Hato and Estevao.
The list is completed by the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Rayan (Bournemouth), Lennart Karl (Bayern), Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Konstantinos Karetsas (Borussia Dortmund), Saïd El Mala (Cologne), Jon Martín (Real Sociedad), Kerimi Alajbegovic (Juventus), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart), Victor Froholdt (Porto), Joane Gadou (Borussia Dortmund), Rodrigo Mora (Roma) and Franco Mastantuono, on loan from Real Madrid at Fiorentina.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lamine Yamal not on the Golden Boy 2026 shortlist?
The award's rules state that a player who has already won the Golden Boy cannot compete for it again. Lamine Yamal claimed the prize in 2024, which ruled him out of both the 2025 and 2026 lists. Despite his status as a global superstar, the regulation is clear and does not allow repeat winners.
When and where will the Golden Boy 2026 be presented?
The awards ceremony will take place in Turin, home city of Tuttosport, between late November and early December. An international jury of 50 sports journalists will decide the winner after a process that includes monthly reviews starting in May.
What has Pau Cubarsí done to become the Golden Boy 2026 favourite?
Cubarsí was a starter for FC Barcelona's La Liga-winning side and for Spain's World Cup-winning national team. His performances in the tournament, highlighted by a memorable goal-line clearance in extra time against Argentina, earned him the best young player award. That body of work has made him the standout candidate for the trophy.