When FC Barcelona experienced an injury crisis in their defensive line to begin 2024, the latest talent from La Masia stepped up to save the team and lead them on a positive run of form. Pau Cubarsí only just turned 17 years of age, as he was born on January 22nd 2007, but he is playing with an incredible maturity at the heart of FC Barcelona's defence.
Cubarsí was born in Estanyol, a small Catalan village on the outskirts of Girona with fewer than 200 inhabitants, which has neither a school nor a football team. As such, he took his first footballing steps at neighbouring Bescano. Aged seven, he joined Girona FC's academy, where he caught the eye of FC Barcelona's scouts, who convinced him to join La Masia in 2018. Raised in a family of carpenters, Cubarsí had a dream: to don the Blaugrana shirt.
His extraordinary talent allowed him to climb up the ranks and become FC Barcelona's third-youngest player to debut in the UEFA Youth League at the age of 15 years, nine months and eight days. “He was always captain because he was very responsible, he gave his all, he earned the respect of his teammates thanks to his exemplary behaviour and hierarchy on the field," his former coach Albert Puig Alcaide told Sport. “He has always been very mature. I remember when he missed a decisive penalty in the LALIGA Promises tournament, he knew how to assume responsibility and manage it as I have rarely seen."
Unsurprisingly, Xavi Hernández took note and named Cubarsí in the squad for FC Barcelona's pre-season preparations, before he was called up by the Spanish U-17 national team to feature in the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia. Cubarsí was an undisputed starter for a Spanish side that topped their group and reached the quarter-finals of the competition in November.
Debut with the first team
On his return from international duty, Cubarsí joined the first team and, four days before his 17th birthday, he was given the nod by Xavi in a Copa del Rey clash against Unionistas de Salamanca CF. Just a few days later, Cubarsí would make his LALIGA EA SPORTS debut as a starter at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. Barça produced a solid display away at Real Betis and grabbed a 4-2 victory, with Cubarsí standing out for his mature performance alongside Ronald Araújo at the back.
Standing at 1.82 tall, the FC Barcelona prodigy dominated the aerial duels and contributed the most to the team's ball circulation. He looked anything but shy on the pitch, breaking the lines with direct passes towards the midfielders and demonstrating that he is a modern centre-back with special charisma when the ball is at his feet. “I'm very happy," Cubarsí said after his league debut in Seville. “This has been the best week of my life. It's so powerful to play for the Barça first team, because I have always been a Culer, so this is a dream come true. The day before in training I found out I might be in the starting line-up, but it wasn't confirmed until Xavi announced the team. I was so happy. I was very nervous at first, but as I gained confidence I started to go with the flow and be myself."
Hailed by teammates and coach
Cubarsí's performances have earned him plaudits from everyone at the club, with Araújo comparing the youngster with FC Barcelona legend Gerard Piqué. “I learned from Pique," the Uruguay international noted. “He wasn't fast, but he was smart. He was always on his toes, technically he gave you instructions. He reminds me of Cubarsí. He's very intelligent, he's incredibly talented. His quality when he comes out with the ball, the intelligence to position himself well… We have to take care of him because he is a club talent for many years to come."
After the Real Betis game, Cubarsí was back on the bench for a game which Barça lost 5-3 at home to Villarreal CF. Since then, he has started the following seven LALIGA EA SPORTS matches, in which the Catalan side are undefeated, and he made his Champions League debut against Napoli on Tuesday night, winning UEFA's Player of the Match Award.
The teenager was particularly impressive in the 4-0 victory over Getafe CF, stealing the limelight once again. Following that win, teammate João Cancelo even labelled the youngster “Franz Beckenbauer Cubarsí" on social media, a nickname which quickly went viral.
Meanwhile, his coach Xavi has been heaping praise on the youngster. “He doesn't look like he's 17 years old," the coach has said. “Cubarsí is the best defender we have in terms of getting the ball out from the back. It's a spectacle to watch him play. He is at a very high level in defence, he goes into duels, he protects the ball, he isn't beaten and he doesn't miss a pass."
His mature displays with the seniors have not gone unnoticed by Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente either, as the boss of La Roja is believed to be considering calling the defender up for the upcoming international break, when Spain have friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. Having debuted with FC Barcelona just a couple of months ago, Cubarsí has already earned a place in the fans' hearts and everyone at the club is confident that the future of the team's defence is in good hands.
