🚨 DID YOU KNOW?
Max Verstappen wanted Red Bull to sign Hulkenberg ahead of Perez in 2020. Red Bull later admitted it was a mistake to not sign the German.
In 2023, Max told Red Bull to sign Bortoleto, Red Bull ignored him. Both of his picks were signed by Audi instead.
#F1
Shoutout to the one and only Pau Cubarsí. A generational talent playing with the composure of a seasoned veteran at the World Cup at just 19 years old 👏
What I’m about to say isn’t an exaggeration at all: no defender at this World Cup has made a bigger difference for his national team in possession than Pau Cubarsí.
Take this sequence from Spain vs. Belgium today. It happened twice. Cubarsí isn’t just breaking the opposition’s press—he’s acting as a deep-lying playmaker, threading through balls in behind the defense. He did it once for Baena in the first half and again for Lamine Yamal in the second.
What’s even more impressive is that in a game featuring players like Kevin De Bruyne and Lamine Yamal, Cubarsí finished as the joint-highest chance creator with Rodri, creating two chances. On top of that, he completed 12 passes into the final third—the most of any player—and recorded 105 touches, second only to Rodri.
It gets even better. Cubarsí has created seven chances at this World Cup, more than any other centre-back, and he also leads all defenders in line-breaking passes, averaging eight per game. He is the starting point of almost every spell of Spanish dominance in possession.
And the craziest part? We’re talking about a 19-year-old centre-back playing in the first World Cup of his career. Pau Cubarsí truly hasn’t received the recognition he deserves in this tournament.
SIENDO DEFENSA Y ES EL UNICO QUE HA ENTENDIDO QUE EL PORTERO ES SUPLENTE, LE QUEMAN LOS GUANTES Y HABÍA QUE PROBARLO.
COJONES QUE LE FALTAN A MUCHOS. DON PAU CUBARSÍ.