{"id":30212,"date":"2026-08-17T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/?p=30212"},"modified":"2026-08-17T12:44:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T16:44:30","slug":"pau-cubarsi-19-the-people-who-criticise-are-going-through-something-bad-and-need-to-be-heard-and-that-is-why-he-does-not-answer-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/sports\/pau-cubarsi-19-the-people-who-criticise-are-going-through-something-bad-and-need-to-be-heard-and-that-is-why-he-does-not-answer-them-30212\/","title":{"rendered":"Pau Cubarsi, 19: the people who criticise are going through something bad and need to be heard, and that is why he does not answer them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At 19, Pau Cubars\u00ed has already reached the summit of international soccer. The FC Barcelona center back helped Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the 2026 World Cup final<\/a>, then received the tournament\u2019s Best Young Player award<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet the most revealing part of his breakthrough may have come before the trophy was lifted. In a June 8 interview conducted by journalist Pablo L. Gento<\/a>, Cubars\u00ed spoke less about fame than about family, vulnerability, sleep, books, movies, and the kind of person he hopes people remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A rapid rise through the academy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cubars\u00ed was born in Estanyol, Spain, in January 2007 and joined La Masia<\/a> from Girona in 2018. La Masia is the club\u2019s youth development system, where young players learn its playing style while progressing through age-group teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Read More: Gabriel Garcia Marquez: a man knows he is getting old because he starts doing one particular thing, and it is funnier than it sounds<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

His rise moved quickly. He made his competitive first-team debut at 16 in January 2024, became a regular, and entered the World Cup as one of Spain\u2019s key defenders. A center back plays in the middle of the defensive line, stopping attacks and often starting moves with passes from deep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The numbers<\/a> show how much responsibility he carried. Cubars\u00ed played 750 minutes, tied for the most of any non-goalkeeper, while Spain conceded only one goal during the tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also completed 668 of 690 passes, a 97 percent success rate, and became the fourth-youngest player<\/a> to appear in a men\u2019s World Cup final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pau
Pau Cubars\u00ed celebrates Spain\u2019s 2026 World Cup triumph while holding the trophy after the final.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Family keeps him grounded<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What does a teenager say after moving from a small town to soccer\u2019s biggest stage? Cubars\u00ed said he would like to be remembered as \u201ca person with values,\u201d someone with clear ideas who could serve as a positive example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He traces that outlook to home rather than the stadium. His parents worked hard, he said, and their effort became his reference point. \u201cMy family is the most important thing in my life,\u201d he added, joking that they would quickly correct him if he forgot to stay humble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Read More: Sleeping too many hours is tied to higher levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer’s, and the range that protects you is narrower than expected<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

That grounding matters because public attention can distort ordinary life. Cubars\u00ed\u2019s answer is not to create a larger-than-life character for cameras. For the most part, he presents the same calm identity<\/a> on and off the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vulnerability without shame<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cubars\u00ed also challenged one of elite sports\u2019 oldest expectations, the idea that athletes should always appear invulnerable. He argued that people should feel free to be themselves and that \u201cshowing vulnerability should never be a reason for mockery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That message lands differently now that he is a world champion. It suggests that strength does not have to mean hiding uncertainty, emotion, or discomfort.<\/a> A player can handle a final in front of a global audience and still admit that honesty matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He takes a similarly measured view of criticism. Rather than answering every insult, he suggested that harsh comments may come from people who are struggling and looking for attention. That is his interpretation, not a diagnosis, but it explains why he prefers self-confidence over online arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recovery starts with sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Behind the polished performances is a routine that sounds almost ordinary. Cubars\u00ed said he has no special bedtime ritual, but he wants complete darkness, as much silence as possible, and an early night with enough hours of sleep<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is nothing glamorous about turning off the lights and going to bed. Still, after playing every possible minute at the World Cup, recovery is not a side issue. It is part of the job, just like training, film study, and defending a late lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His approach also fits the wider picture he draws of himself. Keep things simple. Remove distractions, do the basic work well<\/a>, then repeat it when the next match arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harry Potter, Interstellar, and fruit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Away from soccer, Cubars\u00ed has recently been absorbed by the Harry Potter series. He read the books before watching the movies and was surprised that the screen adaptations won him over. He also returns to Interstellar, especially its soundtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those choices offer a small glimpse of a teenager behind the defender. Between training sessions, travel, and packed stadiums, he still switches off with fantasy stories and science fiction, much like millions of other people his age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Read More: Confucius on growing old: they take you off the stage, but then they give you a seat in the front row<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fruit is another everyday constant<\/a>. Cubars\u00ed said he now eats it daily at breakfast, as a snack, or for dessert, even though he resisted it as a child. He added that he would probably support a campaign encouraging children to eat more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n