Among the many moments that defined the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, there is one that will remain engraved in the collective memory of football with almost the same intensity as Ferrán Torres’ goal: Pau Cubarsí’s clearance in the 120th minute and which prevented a goal that seemed to be a given. He was the ‘Casillas-Robben’ of this edition.
With Argentina launched in a last desperate attempt, a cross ball from Giuliano Simeone In the small area he passed Unai Simón. Marcos Senesi arrived like a bulldozer to drive it into the goal, but Cubarsi appeared to avoid what seemed inevitable. He put the ball (22 cm in diameter) in a space of 1.60 meters between the post and Unai’s right leg to send it for a corner. It happened 80 cm from the post. It is a miracle that the first television side shot did not faithfully consider the real danger that Luis de la Fuente’s team experienced in an irreversible moment.
“It’s a mix of determination and a bit of luck because it didn’t bounce off any player,” maintains Miguel Ángel Nadal, the Spanish center back 62 times capped. “But it’s fabulous how he puts his leg in front of the Argentine and the conviction with which he threw himself into that play. He was brilliant.”
“Above all, he speaks very highly of his ability to intuit the play,” explains Paco Jémez, also the centre-back and renowned Spanish coach. “The way he defends seems out of the ordinary to me, especially at his age. If he continues with this progression we will be facing the best center back in the world.”
Cubarsi, elected the best young player of the championship, established himself in the World Cup as a first-rate center back. His shot rejected by the Belgian goalkeeper and then finished off by Mikel Merino was decisive for the team’s place in the semi-finals and he was the target of a harsh tackle by Enzo Fernández, which caused the Argentine to be sent off.
“He has shown that he is one of the best centre-backs in the world and even more so with his age in an event of that size.”. You have assumed a tremendous responsibility. You try to find a defect in him and it’s complicated,” says Jémez. “To say the least, he doesn’t hit or kick. He has so many physical and tactical attitudes that he does not need to be a tough center back. “He dominates all aspects, good aerial game, fast, good ball delivery, anticipation, he senses the play well… It’s amazing.”
The component of fortune is undeniable. Surely, in a laboratory a high percentage of repeated sets would have ended in an own goal or a rebound with Simón, fatal for the interests of Spain. But the coin came out heads and crowned Cubarsí and his numbers. Throughout the entire championship, the Barça centre-back accumulated 31 clearances and 27 duels won, with a maximum recorded speed of 34.1 km/h and covered more than 66 kilometers. “He has had a great World Cup and the award he has received is highly deserved,” adds Nadal.
