Barcelona keeps producing gems from their youth academy, while Real Madrid keeps spending millions to strengthen their squad. This is the case when comparing Pau Cubarsí and Huijsen: while one hasn't cost a single euro, the other has come at a price of €58 million, despite being worse. We're not the ones saying this; the official list of Golden Boy trophy candidates confirms it, where the La Masia center-back is considered the favorite.
Pau Cubarsí, favorite for the Golden Boy
In the last few hours, the official list of the top 100 under-21 players of the season has been released. In this list, all the footballers have also been ranked by rating, with Pau Cubarsí at the very top.
Although the main favorite was Lamine, since he won the last edition, he's ruled out from winning. The next is Cubarsí, Barça's center-back, who is five spots ahead of Real Madrid's new defender, Huijsen.
Dean Huijsen, for his season at Bournemouth, is the sixth candidate with the most chances to win the Golden Boy, ranking behind Douè, Lewis-Skelly, or Zaire-Emery.
For Barcelona, besides Lamine Yamal and Cubarsí, Héctor Fort (ranked 43rd) is also nominated. Meanwhile, at Real Madrid, there are other names like Arda Güler (13) or Endrick (29).
Cubarsí vs. Huijsen, the next Barça-Madrid battle
Spain can rest easy: the future of their defense is secured with Pau Cubarsí and Huijsen. Despite their youth, both footballers have shown tremendous talent that has led them to play for two of the biggest clubs in the world: Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Pau Cubarsí, at just 18 years old, has been one of the biggest revelations of recent years at Barça. His composure on the ball, vision of the game, and tactical maturity have surprised even the most experienced players. Hansi Flick counts on him as a key piece for the new blaugrana project, and his progress seems unstoppable.
Meanwhile, Huijsen, 20 years old, has been signed by Real Madrid after a very promising season. The center-back, born in the Netherlands but with Spanish nationality, stands out for his physical power, defensive intelligence, and goal-scoring ability on set pieces. Florentino Pérez sees him as an investment for the future, having spent €58 million.
Both center-backs represent a new golden generation for the Spanish national team. If they keep up this upward trajectory, they won't take long to form a formidable partnership wearing La Roja's jersey. The future is in good hands.