Who is the favorite to win the Golden Boy?

The Barcelona defender, barely 19 years old, became the main candidate for the Golden Boy 2026 after his brilliant World Cup with Spain.

Cubarsí, the race leader

The 2026 Golden Boy has a clear favorite, Pau Cubarsí. The 19-year-old Barcelona defender earned that spot after his great World Cup with Spain, where he was named Best Young Player of the tournament. That recognition put him at the top of the ranking, ahead of Lamine Yamal, who cannot repeat the award because he already won it in 2024. The third provisional place is held by Real Madrid's Yan Diomande, another 19-year-old talent who has been developing in Europe.

The Barça tradition

If Cubarsí wins the award, he will be the fifth Barça player to lift it, after Messi (2005), Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022), and Yamal (2024). Another sign that the Barça youth academy continues to be an inexhaustible source of talent

The popular vote and the surprise

In Tuttosport's popular vote, Cubarsí is in second place with 41.2%. The leader is 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, a new signing for Juventus, who has 48.3% of the vote. This contrast between fans and experts adds excitement to the decision. While the fans favor the Bosnian, the soccer consensus points to Cubarsí as the top candidate to win the 2026 Golden Boy.