Pau Cubarsi explains what set him apart from Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal | OneFootball

FC Barcelona players are set to be present on both sides of the pitch as Spain and France face off in the first semi-final of the World Cup 2026 on Tuesday. On the French side will be the defender Jules Kounde, while the Spanish ranks are filled with Blaugrana players, as Luis de la Fuente called up 8 players from the Catalan club for this tournament.

One of these 8 players in the Spanish squad is the defender Pau Cubarsi, who, despite being still only 19 years of age and this being his first World Cup, is not showing any signs of a lack of experience. He has remained a key part of de la Fuente’s team so far, and was crucial for his side in the last game against Belgium, as it was his shot that ultimately resulted in Mikel Merino’s winning goal, after a rebound from a goalkeeper save.

Ahead of the semi-final tie against France, the Barcelona center-back appeared in an interview with Diario AS, and one of the more interesting aspects of this appearance was his comparison of himself with Lamine Yamal. In this regard, the defender said:

One of his opponents in the upcoming semi-final against France is going to be the Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe. While recognizing his abilities, Cubarsi made it clear that his team is not afraid of the Frenchman:

“He doesn’t scare us, but everyone knows the qualities he has. Even if he’s not really involved in the game, he can change it in an instant. He’s unique, just like Lamine. You have to stay alert for the full 90 minutes…”

The center-back also highlighted the role of Hansi Flick in his quick growth at the highest level:

“From the moment I arrived, he trusted me, even though I couldn’t take part in my first pre-season with him because I was coming back from the Olympics. He told me I had good qualities, but that I needed to develop them further and add more to my game. That has helped me a lot, both as a player and as a person, to stay fully focused. You train the way you play, and I’m very proud to have him as my coach.”

Just like his performances on the pitch, this was another mature and composed media appearance from Pau Cubarsi, who continues to shine at the highest level despite his young age. Hopefully, he would continue to star for both Barcelona and Spanish national team for years to come.