Not many teenagers marshal a World Cup defence to the final. The Pau Cubarsí stats that matter at the World Cup 2026 are the clean sheets: the 19-year-old Barcelona centre-back has started every game and anchored the meanest defence in the tournament as Spain reached the final. For the bigger picture, see our World Cup 2026 hub.
Pau Cubarsí stats at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Position | Centre-back |
| Club | Barcelona |
| Age | 19 |
| Nationality | Spain |
| Senior Spain debut | 2024 |
Who is Pau Cubarsí?
Cubarsí is a Barcelona academy product and one of the most coveted young defenders in the world. A ball-playing centre-back prized for his reading of the game and composure in possession, he made his senior Spain debut in 2024 and quickly became a fixture. Barcelona tied him down to a contract until 2029 with a reported €500 million release clause, and he is already valued at more than €130 million. Born in January 2007, he is still only 19.
Pau Cubarsí at the World Cup 2026
Cubarsí has started every game at the heart of the Spain defence. Here is how his tournament has unfolded.
- Spain 0-0 Cape Verde (group stage, June 15): Started and kept a clean sheet on the opening day.
- Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia (group stage, June 21): A composed 90 minutes as Spain kept another clean sheet.
- Uruguay 0-1 Spain (group stage, June 27): Went the distance in a narrow away win.
- Spain 3-0 Austria (Round of 32, July 2): Another clean sheet as Spain cruised into the last 16.
- Portugal 0-1 Spain (Round of 16, July 6): Marshalled the back line as Spain edged Portugal to reach the quarter-finals.
- Spain 2-1 Belgium (quarter-final, July 10): Went the full 90 as Spain came from behind to reach the semi-finals.
- France 0-2 Spain (semi-final, July 14): Another clean sheet, helping keep Kylian Mbappé quiet, as Spain reached the World Cup 2026 final.
Ever-present and rarely beaten, Cubarsí has anchored the tournament’s meanest defence at just 19, under Luis de la Fuente, alongside Lamine Yamal and Pedri. For more, see the World Cup 2026 final predictions and the World Cup 2026 hub.
Spain’s teenage wall
Composed beyond his years, Cubarsí is 90 minutes from a World Cup winner’s medal before he turns 20.
For the full squad and Spain’s route to the final, see our Spain World Cup 2026 profile.
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Pau Cubarsí is a 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain centre-back, rated one of the best young defenders in world football.
He is 19, born on 22 January 2007.
He has started every game, anchoring Spain’s defence as they kept clean sheet after clean sheet on the way to the final.
Barcelona, having come through the club’s academy.
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