Barcelona see La Masia talent as future Ballon d’Or contender after World Cup heroics

Pau Cubarsi’s remarkable rise has convinced Barcelona that they are witnessing the emergence of a truly generational defender, with the club believing the teenager has everything needed to become a future Ballon d’Or winner.

According to MARCA, there is growing confidence within Barcelona that Cubarsi could eventually become only the fourth defender in football history to lift the prestigious individual award. 

It is a remarkable level of belief for a player who is still just 19 years old, but one that shows the impact he has made for both club and country.

After establishing himself as an undisputed starter under Hansi Flick, Cubarsi has taken a giant step forward by helping Spain win the FIFA World Cup, where he started all eight matches, played every minute of the tournament and was deservedly named the competition’s Best Young Player.

At Barcelona, those achievements have only strengthened the conviction that the defender’s ceiling remains extraordinarily high.

Cubarsi continues to exceed expectations

Barcelona feel Pau Cubarsi could win the Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Pau Cubarsi’s development has been one of the biggest success stories to emerge from La Masia in recent years.

Despite fierce competition for places in both Barcelona’s defence and the Spanish national team, the teenager has become a guaranteed starter through consistency, maturity and composure beyond his years.

His performances at the World Cup further elevated his reputation on the global stage. 

Playing every minute of Spain’s victorious campaign, Cubarsi produced a series of commanding displays that earned widespread praise and ultimately secured him the Best Young Player award.

Barcelona dream of historic Ballon d’Or achievement

According to the report, several figures within Barcelona believe the young centre-back has the potential to challenge for the Ballon d’Or in the future, which is an extraordinary feat for a defender in the modern era.

Pau Cubarsi played every minute of Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Historically, the award has been dominated by forwards and midfielders, with defenders rarely receiving football’s most prestigious individual honour.

So far, in the entire history of the award, only three defenders have ever won the Ballon d’Or since its introduction in 1956. 

Franz Beckenbauer claimed the award twice, in 1972 and 1976, before Matthias Sammer followed in 1996. 

Fabio Cannavaro remains the most recent defender to win it after his unforgettable performances in 2006.

If Cubarsi were to achieve the same feat, he would join one of the most exclusive groups in football history.