Pau Cubarsi Tops 2026 Golden Boy Shortlist as Barcelona Star Emerges as Favorite

Barcelona's young defender Pau Cubarsi stands out at the head of the 25-player shortlist for the 2026 Golden Boy award, competing against rising stars from clubs like Real Madrid, PSG, and Manchester City. After an impressive season with both club and country, Cubarsi is now the clear favorite to claim this prestigious honor given to Europe's best Under-21 talent.

Cubarsi Shines as Barcelona’s Defensive Pillar

The 19-year-old center-back has rapidly become a key figure in Barcelona's defense and played a vital role in Spain’s recent World Cup triumph. Already recognized as the top young player of the 2026 World Cup, Cubarsi is expected to add the Golden Boy trophy—awarded by Tuttosport—to his list of achievements. The award selection relies on the Golden Boy Index developed by Football Benchmark, which evaluates players based on their performance, playing time, and club strength, with extra bonuses for success in European and international competitions.

Premier League and La Liga Stars Among Finalists

Alongside Cubarsi, several notable names from the Premier League and La Liga have made the cut. Manchester City newcomer Ayyoub Bouaddi joins the list after his €100 million transfer from Lille last summer. Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi, who netted 13 goals in 33 appearances during his debut English season, also features prominently.

Real Madrid claims two nominees: Endrick and summer signing Yan Diomande. Although Diomande has yet to fully establish himself at the Bernabeu, his outstanding last season with RB Leipzig—scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists in 54 matches—secured his spot.

Wild Cards and Other Key Inclusions

Tuttosport’s wild card system added players who might not have qualified purely on index ranking. This year’s wild cards include Brighton’s Charalampos Kostoulas, Borussia Dortmund’s Joane Gadou, and Barcelona’s Xavi Espart. Other notable names include Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Chelsea duo Jorrel Hato and Estevao, plus Juventus prospect Kerim Alajbegovic.

Paris Saint-Germain have fewer representatives this year, with Warren Zaire-Emery as their sole finalist, maintaining his status among Europe’s top young talents.

Complete List of 25 Golden Boy Candidates

• Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City)
• Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)
• Endrick (Real Madrid)
• Yan Diomande (Real Madrid)
• Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton)
• Joane Gadou (Borussia Dortmund)
• Xavi Espart (Barcelona)
• Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
• Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)
• Estevao (Chelsea)
• Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus)
• Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Marc Bernal (Barcelona)
• Luka Vuskovic (Brighton)
• Victor Froholdt (Porto)
• Rayan (Bournemouth)
• Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
• Konstantinos Karetsas (Dortmund)
• Said El Mala (Cologne)
• Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart)
• Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)
• Jon Martin (Real Sociedad)
• Rodrigo Mora (Roma)
• Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina)

The list represents a broad spectrum of Europe's top leagues and highlights players who show promise for football's future. Despite fierce competition, Pau Cubarsi remains the heavy favorite to take home the award this year.