Barcelona’s 5-2 Champions League victory over Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night was marred by a shocking injury to their 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi.
The promising centre-back was forced off in the second half after a horrific accident. As he went up to head the ball clear, Cubarsi was struck by the boot of Uros Spajic, leaving the young defender with serious cuts to his face.
Blood immediately began pouring, and Barcelona’s medical staff quickly rushed to his aid.
The injury was so severe that Cubarsi had to be substituted, with Sergi Dominguez coming on in his place. After the match, the teenager was taken to the dressing room, where he received 10 stitches to close the gash.
Despite the brutal nature of the injury, Cubarsi was seen in high spirits after the game. His Barcelona teammate Gavi shared a video on social media of the young defender smiling and giving a thumbs up, captioning it with ‘my warrior.’
Although the injury appeared to be quite serious, reports from Spain suggest that there is no major concern, and it’s believed that Cubarsi could still feature in Barcelona’s upcoming match against Real Sociedad on Sunday.
The club also shared a picture of the teenager, proudly displaying the message “Everything for Barca.”
Cubarsi, who made his senior debut at just 16, is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in world football. His performance in Barcelona’s starting lineup this season has been a testament to his growing stature in the game.
The young defender has already proven himself capable of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and despite his injury, his resilience continues to shine.
Barcelona took the lead in the match early on, with Inigo Martinez scoring after 13 minutes. Red Star Belgrade equalized through Silas just before the half-hour mark, but Robert Lewandowski’s goals either side of halftime, along with Raphinha’s 55th-minute strike, put Barcelona in control.
Fermin Lopez rounded off the scoring for the Catalan giants, while Milson netted a late goal for the hosts.
With Cubarsi’s promising future ahead, fans will be hoping for a swift recovery, and his bravery on the field only strengthens his reputation as one of the best young defenders in the game.
