Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi opts out of 2026 Ballon d’Or night in London

Pau Cubarsi will not travel to London for Monday’s 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, despite being shortlisted for the main award and regarded as one of the leading candidates for the Kopa Trophy.

The Barcelona defender’s decision was reported by El Partidazo de COPE, presented by Juanma Castano on Spanish radio station COPE.

Journalist Helena Condis said Cubarsi needs rest and time away from the spotlight after finishing the clasico against Real Madrid with a slight fever. His absence comes only hours before the ceremony at the London Palladium.

Cubarsi is among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or after an outstanding season for both Barcelona and Spain. He helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup and was named the tournament’s best young player, further strengthening his reputation as one of world football’s leading emerging talents.

He is also considered a strong contender for the Kopa Trophy, which is awarded to the best young player in the world.

Although Cubarsi’s withdrawal could prompt questions about the identity of the Kopa Trophy winner, it does not indicate that he has lost either award. The winners have not been announced before the ceremony, and the stated reason for his decision is his need to recover after experiencing a slight rise in temperature following the clasico.

Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal is also among the contenders for the Kopa Trophy. Yamal won the award in both 2024 and 2025.

The ceremony will take place on Monday evening, 26 October, at the London Palladium. This year’s event will mark the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, with the winners of the various categories due to be revealed.

The fixture information accompanying the report lists Barcelona in La Liga on 31 October 2026 against Deportivo Alaves. It also lists Racing Santander and Real Madrid in La Liga on 1 November 2026.

Cubarsi’s absence means one of Barcelona’s most prominent young players will not be present when the individual honours are awarded, but no conclusion can be drawn from his decision not to attend. His nomination for both the Ballon d’Or and the Kopa Trophy remains unchanged.