19-year-old star becomes Barcelona’s most-used player at the World Cup | OneFootball

Pau Cubarsi has ended the World Cup group stage as the FC Barcelona player with the most minutes, and that says a lot about his importance to Spain.

The 19-year-old centre-back has played every minute of La Roja’s three matches against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, completing 270 minutes in the group stage.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Cubarsi is the only Barcelona player to have played all available minutes so far in the tournament.

That puts him ahead of other Barca stars such as Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.

Spain already trust him completely

Cubarsi’s case is special because this is his first World Cup. Many young defenders need time to adapt to the pressure of such a stage, but he has looked calm from the start.

Spain have not conceded a goal in the group stage, and the partnership between Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte has become one of the foundations of Luis de la Fuente’s team.

His passing numbers explain why he is so valuable. Cubarsi has made 289 passes, second only to Rodri in the tournament, with an accuracy above 98 percent.

That is not just safe possession. He also averages 2.7 long passes per game, showing his ability to organise play from the back and break pressure when needed.

Defensively, he is just as reliable. He averages 5.3 recoveries, three clearances and 2.3 duels won per match.

For Barcelona, this is another confirmation of what Hansi Flick already knows. Cubarsi is not simply a talented academy product. He is already a defender with senior authority.

The only concern is workload, because Barca will need him fresh next season. That said, emotionally, this World Cup is strengthening his status.

Cubarsi may not always attract the spotlight like Lamine Yamal or Pedri, but he is becoming just as essential in his own way. Spain trust him. Barcelona trust him. And at 19, that is extraordinary.