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Pau Cubarsi is poised to be one of the most promising young talents to watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

La Masia, Barcelona’s renowned youth academy, continues to produce some of the finest footballers in the world, and its 2007 batch could prove to be one of the most exceptional generations yet.

Imagine a scenario where Spain and Barcelona’s starting centre-back and right-winger were born just six months apart and both came through the same youth setup. That scenario is now reality for Spain’s national team with Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old centre-half Cubarsi is widely expected to earn a place in Luis de la Fuente’s final 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup after starting the majority of Barcelona’s fixtures across the past two seasons.

Cubarsi made his international debut for Spain in March 2024 at the age of 17, just four months after his last match for the Under-17 side.

Remarkably, he became a senior Spanish international before even featuring for the Under-21 team.

The youthful-looking defender perfectly represents the Barcelona and Spain football development model. The saying, ‘If you’re good enough, you’re old enough,’ fits Cubarsi’s case more than anyone else’s. Standing around six feet tall—or perhaps even slightly shorter—he doesn’t fit the typical modern-day centre-half profile. He may not have the imposing physique of a powerhouse defender, yet he often emerges victorious in duels.

Unsurprisingly, Cubarsi’s game relies heavily on his technical quality and composure in possession. He is an excellent passer of the ball, keeping things simple and efficient. Despite his modest height, he remains quite effective in aerial challenges, even though it’s not his primary strength.

In his short career so far, Cubarsi has already faced some of the most challenging forwards in Europe. When he made his Champions League debut during the knockout stages two seasons ago, he came up against Victor Osimhen of Napoli and Kylian Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain in his first two matches in the competition. Barcelona won both games, with Cubarsi completing the full 90 minutes in each.

At the 2024 Olympic Final, Cubarsi played a key role as Spain defeated France in extra time. That French side featured a highly experienced attacking lineup including Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Desire Doue also making appearances from the bench.

In that final, Cubarsi recorded 14 clearances, seven of which came through headers—something not often demanded of him at Barcelona, but a clear demonstration of his adaptability and defensive awareness. His reading of the game is exceptional, allowing him to anticipate and neutralize threats like a seasoned veteran. Occasionally, he looks to switch play with long diagonals from right centre-back to the left flank, but only when the situation calls for it. His long-range passing is expected to keep improving as he matures and continues to thrive in Barcelona’s possession-based system.

DID YOU KNOW: Pau Cubarsi seldom gives interviews in Spanish as he was raised in a Catalan-speaking home.