Spain’s 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí won the FIFA Young Player Award at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Spanish centre-back claimed the honour ahead of his Spain teammate Lamine Yamal.
Cubarsí enjoyed a memorable campaign and played a key role in Spain’s triumphant run to the title, producing a series of impressive performances at the heart of the defence.
He featured in all eight matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for Spain and helped his national team keep seven clean sheets.
Cubarsí is the first Spanish player to win the FIFA Young Player Award at a FIFA World Cup. He has now joined the likes of Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Michael Owen, Thomas Muller, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe, who also won the Young Player award in previous editions of the tournament.
He is also the fourth teenager after Pele, Michael Owen and Mbappe to win FIFA Young Player award.
FIFA Young Player Award Winners
| EDITION | FIFA YOUNG PLAYER | COUNTRY | AGE | POSITION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Pelé | Brazil | 17 | Forward |
| 1962 | Flórián Albert | Hungary | 20 | Forward |
| 1966 | Franz Beckenbauer | West Germany | 20 | Defender |
| 1970 | Teófilo Cubillas | Peru | 21 | Midfielder |
| 1974 | Władysław Żmuda | Poland | 20 | Defender |
| 1978 | Antonio Cabrini | Italy | 20 | Defender |
| 1982 | Manuel Amoros | France | 21 | Defender |
| 1986 | Enzo Scifo | Belgium | 20 | Midfielder |
| 1990 | Robert Prosinečki | Yugoslavia | 21 | Midfielder |
| 1994 | Marc Overmars | Netherlands | 20 | Forward |
| 1998 | Michael Owen | England | 18 | Forward |
| 2002 | Landon Donovan | United States | 20 | Forward |
| 2006 | Lukas Podolski | Germany | 21 | Forward |
| 2010 | Thomas Müller | Germany | 20 | Forward |
| 2014 | Paul Pogba | France | 21 | Midfielder |
| 2018 | Kylian Mbappé | France | 19 | Forward |
| 2022 | Enzo Fernández | Argentina | 21 | Midfielder |
| 2026 | Pau Cubarsí | Spain | 19 | Defender |
Cubarsí, who helped Spain keep seven clean sheets at the FIFA World Cup 2026, is also only the fifth defender after Franz Beckenbauer, Władysław Żmuda, Antonio Cabrini and Manuel Amoros to win the Young Player award.
The last defender to win the FIFA Young Player Award before Cubarsí was French defender Manuel Amoros, who claimed the honour at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Spain.
Rodri wins Golden Ball
Spain captain Rodri edged out Lionel Messi to win the Golden Ball award at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Spanish midfielder played all eight matches for La Roja and played a key role in guiding his team to seven consecutive wins and their World Cup triumph.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who enjoyed another stellar campaign with eight goals in the tournament, finished second in the voting and received the Silver Ball award. France skipper Kylian Mbappe claimed the Bronze Ball after another prolific World Cup campaign.
