Girona, Spain – February 16, 2026 – Pau Cubarsí, the 19-year-traditional centre-back for FC Barcelona, scored his side’s first goal during their 2-1 defeat against Girona FC at Montilivi Stadium, a result that ceded La Liga’s top spot to Real Madrid.
The match marked a setback for Barcelona, who had previously held the league lead. Following the game, Cubarsí addressed the result, emphasizing the need for internal assessment and renewed effort. “Everyone saw what happened,” he stated, according to reports, adding that the team must “improve,” “self-critique,” and “buckle down.”
Cubarsí’s debut season with the Barcelona first team began in January 2024, with a Copa del Rey appearance against Unionistas in Salamanca. He had previously featured in a friendly against Club América in Dallas a month earlier. The 2023/24 season proved pivotal in his development, transitioning from Barça Atlètic to regular appearances in the starting XI.
The defender joined La Masia, Barcelona’s youth academy, in July 2018, having previously played for Girona as a U12 player. He is described as a centre-back who provides leadership and decisiveness in defence, with the ability to initiate play from the back.
Cubarsí has also represented Spain at various youth levels, including U15, U16, U17, U21, and U23, and has now progressed to the senior national team, earning 10 caps as of November 2025. In July 2025, he was ranked as the sixth-best centre-back in world football by both Sports Illustrated and ESPN.
Born on January 22, 2007, in Bescanó, Catalonia, Cubarsí’s upbringing was steeped in Catalan culture, with his parents prioritizing the use of the Catalan language at home. He noted during his participation in the Olympic Games in 2024 that he often avoids interviews due to his limited fluency in Spanish, having grown up primarily speaking Catalan.
Barcelona will continue their La Liga campaign with Hansi Flick as coach, with Cubarsí expected to remain a key figure in the team’s defensive lineup. The club has not commented on the refereeing decisions during the Girona match, and no formal protests have been filed as of February 17, 2026.
