Joan Garcia was among the standout names at Monday night’s Festa de l’Esport Català, where the 24 year old goalkeeper was honored with the Men’s Breakthrough Award at the CaixaForum in Barcelona. The gala,
organized by SPORT alongside the UFEC, brought together athletes from across Catalonia and highlighted Garcia’s rapid rise over the past year.
The list of previous recipients includes notable figures such as Pau Gasol, Marc Márquez, Pau Cubarsí, and Lamine Yamal. Garcia now joins that group after a season that changed his standing within Spanish football.
Much of that recognition traces back to his performances with Espanyol last season. Garcia played a decisive role in the club’s survival, delivering a string of displays that kept them in the division and pushed FC Barcelona to act. His move to the Camp Nou followed soon after, letting him go from local hero to household name across the world.
At 24, he already has his first major title at club level, having lifted the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona in Saudi Arabia. It was a milestone he acknowledged when speaking after receiving the award.
“This last year a lot of things have happened, especially in sporting terms, but in life and in sport you have to look for new challenges, build your path step by step, with new ambitions, without forgetting where you come from, with maximum respect and pride,” Garcia said from the stage.
He also spoke about what comes next.
“The goal is to keep winning titles, after achieving the first one we could. We are still alive in all the others and I want to really enjoy the day to day. That is what will take us to success,” he added.
