Young Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi recently expressed his thoughts on rival Desire Doue when talking about the Golden Boy award.He said he would be happy for his opponent if Doue ends up winning the award.
Both have shone brightly
Both Kubalsi and Doue played very well last season.Kubalsi played an important role for Barcelona in winning the La Liga title.Doué, on the other hand, played for Paris Saint-Germain and helped the team win the Ligue 1 title.
What’s more, Doué was the center of attention in the Champions League final when he scored two goals all by himself.He was also named the best young player in the Champions League last season.This series of wonderful performances has quickly made him one of the favorites for the Golden Boy Award.
Kubalsi responds graciously to the competition
When asked if he was worried about losing to Douai, the 2007-born youngster appeared candid.He said, “I think Desiree played really well, especially in that Champions League final.Both he and I are actually eligible for the award.”
The two had previously met at the 2024 Paris Olympics.At the time, Kubalsi represented the Spanish national Olympic team, while Douai was at the center of the French team.The Spanish team eventually managed to win the title, which made Kubalsi remember that experience fondly.
“Last year we played in Paris against a French team led by Desiree.We went on the field with the goal of winning the game and we were lucky to get the gold medal in the end.”Kubalsi recalled.
This year, on June 6, they will meet again in the semifinals of the Nations League, this time representing their respective national teams.It will undoubtedly be another highly-anticipated showdown.
Doué and Dembele: Golden Boy and Ballon d’Or hopefuls
Aside from the Golden Boy award, Douai’s teammate, Parisian star Ousmane Dembele, is also considered a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.Kubalsi, who was teammates with Dembele at Barcelona, recognizes the winger’s ability.
“I’ve always thought he had what it takes to win the Ballon d’Or since he was at Barcelona.He’s strong whether he plays on the wing or in the middle, he can break through, he can shoot, he’s very versatile in all aspects.”
As for whether Dembele has a chance of winning the award or not, Kubalsi said he wasn’t too sure.“But if you do see what he’s done throughout the season, you’ll see that he’s really done well.”
Summary
Overall, both Kubalsi and Doue have shown the potential and strength that young players should have.The competition for the Golden Boy Award is fierce, but the mutual respect between the two players makes this story all the more interesting.
If you are also following the growth of these new stars, keep following their games and maybe they will bring more surprises in the coming years.