Pau Cubarsi emerged as one of the standout players of the 2026 World Cup. The Barcelona defender played every minute for Spain, who conceded just one goal on their way to becoming world champions.
Cubarsi earned the Young Player of the Tournament award in recognition of his consistent excellence throughout the competition. However, FIFA’s voting for the World Cup 2026 Dream XI did not include him as an option.
Defender nominees available to fans were Lisandro Martinez, Nuno Mendes, Marc Cucurella, Virgil van Dijk, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cristian Romero, Dayot Upamecano, and Pedro Porro. The omission of Cubarsi, alongside defensive midfielder Aymeric Laporte, was surprising given their key roles.
Other Spanish players nominating for the Dream XI include goalkeeper Unai Simon, midfielders Rodri and Lamine Yamal, and forward Mikel Oyarzabal. Still, leaving out a young defender who played a central role for the champions remains puzzling.
