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The FC Barcelona centre-back is the main contender to succeed Lamine Yamal as the winner of the award.
Pau Cubarsí is the overwhelming favorite to win the next "Golden Boy." This was confirmed by "Tuttosport," which officially announced the list of the top 100 candidates for the 2025 edition of the prestigious award on its channels this Wednesday.
https://e-noticies.cat/futbol/anunci-oficial-barca-ultima-hora-pau-cubarsi-aquest-estiu
Although the 18-year-old centre-back is de facto the number one candidate, he is not the highest placed on the list shared by the Italian newspaper. Lamine Yamal, with a rating of 97.7 generated by Football Benchmark for his performances in 2024/2025, remains the number one player of the generation, although due to the rules of the award, and having won it last season, he will not be able to receive an award that today would go to his teammate, second in the classification with a score of 95.4.
The L'Estanyol centre-back, who already made a strong entrance in the second half of last year with Xavi Hernández on the bench, has established himself this season as a regular starter in Flick's schemes, playing a total of 56 matches, 48 of them as a starter, winning all three domestic titles, the Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and LaLiga, and leading the defence alongside Iñigo Martínez like a seasoned veteran.
After Lamine and Cubarsí, the top positions are occupied by PSG's Desiré Doué, Arsenal's Lewis-Skellu, Zaire-Emery, also from the French club, and Madrid's new signing, Drean Huijsen. Of all of them, only the French striker could overshadow Pau if they have a strong Champions League final against Inter and if France beats Spain in the Nations League.
So, if there are no drastic changes in the coming months, Barça will continue, thanks to Cubarsí, to dominate the "Ballon d'Or" for teenagers, which the Italian newspaper awards to the best U21 footballer in the world of the last season.
In recent seasons, Pedri (2021), Gavi (2022) and, as we said, Lamine Yamal (2024) have won the trophy, making it clear that the generation of teenage Barça footballers, who have consolidated their position this year under the command of Hansi Flick, are the future of European football.
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Posted Using INLEO