Spain Secures Second Star After 1-0 Victory Against Argentina in World Cup Final
Spain celebrated a significant triumph as they claimed their second star after edging out Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This victory marked a well-deserved recognition for La Roja, who stood out as the strongest team throughout the tournament. A pivotal factor in their success was their formidable defence, which allowed only one goal against them across the entire campaign.
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While Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball for his stellar performances in midfield as a leader, Pau Cubarsi emerged as a noteworthy contender, having shone in a central defensive role throughout the tournament.
The Case for Cubarsi to Win the Ballon d’Or
Cubarsi was recognized for his outstanding contributions, securing the Best Young Player of the Tournament award. However, the potential for him to achieve more significant recognition, such as the Ballon d’Or, cannot be overlooked.
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo presented a detailed set of statistics that strengthen Cubarsi’s candidacy.
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At just 19, the Barcelona defender was a stalwart in a Spanish defence that made history by allowing only one goal during the tournament—a single strike by De Ketelaere in the quarter-final against Belgium. Throughout the World Cup, Cubarsi achieved 24 recoveries, maintained a 96% pass accuracy, registered six clean sheets, and won 12 aerial duels, forming a strong partnership with Aymeric Laporte.
Cubarsi’s performance closely mirrored that of Fabio Cannavaro during the 2006 World Cup, which the Italian defender won before claiming the Ballon d’Or. The last defender to earn this prestigious award prior to Cannavaro was Matthias Sammer, whose own statistics provide a point of reference for Cubarsi.
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Although Sammer made four more recoveries and won one additional aerial duel, he recorded a lower passing accuracy of 84% and kept fewer clean sheets than Cubarsi.
Considering these factors, it is feasible that Cubarsi could either match or exceed the accomplishments of those defensive legends. With his recent triumph in LaLiga with Barcelona, the foundation of a genuine Ballon d’Or case is firmly established.
A Lack of Obvious Candidates
One of the strongest arguments supporting Cubarsi’s candidacy is the absence of a standout alternative this year.
Could Cubarsi make a case for the Ballon d’Or? (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Harry Kane had another remarkable season but did not secure either the World Cup or the Champions League. Kylian Mbappe also experienced a trophyless campaign this season, failing to achieve success on both domestic and international stages. Ousmane Dembele did win the Champions League but fell short at the World Cup and did not reach the stellar performance levels of the previous year.
Rodri, the eventual Golden Ball recipient, faced a significant injury that affected his season duration, which might impact his standing in the overall evaluation. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland again could not add any major silverware to his collection.
The most credible challenger to Cubarsi could be his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal, who is currently favored by bookmakers. However, even Yamal, despite displaying brilliance, did not deliver the expected magnitude of performance this season and had a solid rather than spectacular showing in the World Cup.
In conclusion, the scenario paints a compelling picture: in a year lacking a clear frontrunner, a young player who led the strongest defence in World Cup history while also achieving LaLiga success presents a strong argument for candidacy. Although Cubarsi may be considered an outsider, and defenders traditionally face challenges for individual accolades that often prioritize forwards, his remarkable performance throughout the tournament and season certainly merits inclusion in the conversation.