Pau Cubarsi reveals how he made Spain’s decisive World Cup final save

Pau Cubarsi says he had to “jump at him with all my strength and leave it to chance” to prevent Argentina scoring in the closing stages of the 2026 World Cup final.

The Barcelona and Spain defender intervened in stoppage time of extra time to deny Marcos Senesi at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, preserving Spain’s 1-0 lead and helping them win the World Cup.

Cubarsi, who has established himself as a key player for both club and country despite his young age, recalled the incident in an interview with The Athletic. His performances and character have earned the trust of Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.

“I remember the ball not going in and breathing a sigh of relief,” Cubarsi said, as reported by Cadena SER. “The first thing I thought was: ‘Right, there’s one attack left. I have to defend it before I become world champion.’”

He said he had seen Lionel Messi with the ball near the edge of Spain’s penalty area before Senesi ran in behind the Spanish defence. Cubarsi noticed a dangerous gap between himself and Mikel Merino and realised he had to react immediately.

“I knew I had to jump at him with all my strength and leave it to chance,” he said.

Cubarsi managed to get the ball away before collapsing to the ground. He kept his head down on the turf and did not look behind him until he was certain the ball had not crossed the line. Only then did he begin to understand the importance of the intervention.

Spain’s celebrations after the final brought another surprise when Cubarsi was named the tournament’s best young player.

“I was stunned,” he said. “I knew I had a chance because not many young players reach a World Cup final, but my only aim was to give my best and help Spain win the title.”

Away from football, Cubarsi spoke about the sacrifices made by his family and the pride he feels at being able to improve his parents’ lives. His father no longer works for the family company, allowing him to attend matches and enjoy life, while the business continues under the supervision of Cubarsi’s uncle and cousin.

“The fact that, as their son, I have helped them retire fills me with pride,” he said. “We can enjoy this life together because if I have reached where I am now, it is because of their sacrifices.”

Cubarsi also revealed that he is interested in cars and regularly looks at new models. However, his parents do not want him driving a luxury car at 19.

“I love cars, but my parents do not like the idea of me driving an expensive one at my age,” he said. “They told me to wait a little, until I mature and gain more experience.”

He identifies Barcelona legends Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique as his defensive inspirations, admiring the contrast between Pique’s technical ability and Puyol’s mentality and character.