Spain defender Pau Cubarsí hailed for stellar World Cup showing

At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Spain’s 19‑year‑old centre‑back Pau Cubarsí, partnered with veteran Aymeric Laporte, helped the team reach the final while conceding only one goal in the tournament. Their defence held France to a 0‑2 win, limiting French shots and keeping the expected‑goals metric at 0.28.

Cubarsí recorded 32 passes, 29 accurate, while Laporte completed 70 of 76 passes (92%). In seven matches Spain registered 533 passes, averaging 76.1 per game. The young defender, a Barcelona product who debuted before age 17, also earned an Olympic gold in Paris 2024.

Portuguese journalist Hugo Scoccia argued that Cubarsí’s “apoteotic” World Cup could merit the Ballon d’Or, likening him to 2006 winner Fabio Cannavaro, and suggested that coach Luis de la Fuente might be considered for world‑coach recognition.