Pau Cubarsí is one of the main protagonists of the 2026 Ballon d'Or. However, the Barcelona and Spanish national team defender will unexpectedly not attend the prestigious award ceremony, which will take place at the London Palladium theater in London. Despite his young age, the 19-year-old world champion has decided to put professionalism above everything else. Confirming his nature, but also his reserved character and desire to maintain privacy, Pau has chosen to prioritize rest and the need to recover his energy.
The Barcelona player is on the list of finalists for the Ballon d'Or, although his chances of winning the award are practically zero. That doesn't mean that Pau Cubarsí isn't one of the most anticipated names of the evening, as he is a candidate for the Kopa award, which is given to young talents. His excellent performances with Barcelona and Spain, crowned by winning the world title, have enabled him to be among the candidates for the best under-21 player in the world. The main rival for this award is his teammate, Lamine Yamal.
So, there was more than one reason for Cubarsí to appear on the red carpet in London, along with many famous colleagues, to enjoy the spectacle and attention of the most important stage of football. But Pau Cubarsí has said no, as confirmed by the newspaper "Marca", because after "El Clasico" and the defeat against Real Madrid, he needs to stop and recover his energy for the rest of the season.
It is not a random choice, as it is completely in line with his nature. The 19-year-old is not used to seeking attention, luxury or sensational situations. Popularity in football has not changed him, confirming once again his reserve and focus only on the passion that is also his profession.
After all, even his coach, Flick, after the last disappointing defeat, declared: "We were not fresh and we have to change that. The players will have two days off after tomorrow's training. Some will go to the event in London. I want everyone to be fresh and make the right decisions regarding food, sleep and recovery."
Despite the permission of the club and the coach, as well as two days of rest, Pau Cubarsí will not leave Catalonia and will not join the group made up of Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Joan García, as well as the Barcelona management. An important message for all of football: if you want to grow, learn and become stronger, you must not give up on sacrifices.
