Pau Cubarsi created history and broke Italian football legend Paolo Maldini’s record as Spain kept another clean sheet to reach the FIFA World Cup 2026 final after beating France 2-0 in the semi-final at the ATT Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The teenager put in another solid performance at the back as he continues to prove his mettle as the world’s best young defender.
Cubarsi has started all seven games for Spain in the tournament in what is his first major international tournament. The youngster has formed a formidable center-back pairing with veteran defender Aymeric Laporte, as the 2010 champions have conceded just one goal in the tournament so far.
Pau Cubarsi Creates History
Spain has kept six clean sheets (in seven games in the tournament), and Cubarsi has started and played the 90 minutes in all matches. The Barcelona star has become the fastest defender to keep six clean sheets in the tournament’s history. He is the first player to seal six clean sheets in his first seven appearances in the competition. Maldini had set the record in his debut World Cup in 1990 while playing for Italy, who lost the semi-final and finished third at home.
Most Cleansheets In FIFA World Cup history After First Seven Appearances
| Player | Clean sheets | Matches |
| Paul Cubarsi | 6 | 7 |
| Paolo Maldini | 5 | 7 |
Meanwhile, Cubarsi is part of a Spain defense that has set the world record for the most clean sheets in a single edition of the tournament. In all seven matches so far, Cubarsi has started alongside Laporte with Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella as the fullbacks alongside Unai Simón in goal. The European champions are the first team to keep six clean sheets in the tournament’s history. Previously, the Netherlands (1974), Italy (1990), Brazil (1994), and France (1998) did not concede a goal in five games.
Spain has so far only conceded one goal (in the QF vs Belgium) in the tournament. If they do not concede in the final and win the trophy, they will set the record for the least goals conceded in a winning campaign. The record is jointly held by France (1998), Italy (2006), and Spain (2010).
The game also saw Cubarsi, alongside talisman Lamine Yamal, become the first teenagers to play in a World Cup semi-final in history. The duo are the top contender to win the Young Player of the Tournament.