Pau Cubarsí has established himself as one of the most reliable figures in the defence of both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, which has just won the 2026 World Cup.

However, before competing at the highest level, the young centre-back’s life was tied to the laid-back pace of Estanyol, a small village in Girona with fewer than 200 inhabitants.

In that setting, he grew up surrounded by tools, wood and a family trade that taught him a valuable lesson for his life as a sportsman: the value of hard work every day.

The family business that inspired Pau Cubarsí

The story of the Cubarsí family is told through ‘Fusteria Cubarsí’, a joinery business founded in 1905 that has been passed down through four generations.

The business is currently run by his father, Robert, and his uncle. The footballer spent his childhood summers in that workshop, amidst wood shavings and saws.

The player himself recalled that time in an interview with ‘El Periódico’: “It was started by my great-grandfather, then my grandfather, and now my father and my uncle. It’s the family business.”

“I don’t really know much about it, but I’ve helped my father out a few summers, and as a child I used to spend the summer pottering about there, getting in the way more than helping, I suppose,” he added.

“My family keeps me grounded. If I don’t practise humility, I get a slap on the back of the head” – Pau Cubarsí

Witnessing his parents’ dedication in the workshop was his main lesson in discipline. In comments reported by ‘EFE’, Cubarsí explained how that example shaped his mindset.

“When you see your parents working so hard to keep the family going, when you see the effort they put in to ensure their children are well looked after, that becomes a benchmark for you,” he argued.

From tools to the pitch: precision and reading the game

For his part, we could also say that this upbringing in the family business is evident today in his style on the pitch.

In carpentry, there is a basic rule: measure twice before making a final cut. A miscalculation ruins the wood.

In that sense, Cubarsí carries over certain values from carpentry into his playing style: the ability to read the game, precision and patience.

Rather than resorting to ill-timed challenges, the centre-back excels at reading his opponents’ timing. Furthermore, he gauges distances, waits for the exact moment and intervenes without committing unnecessary fouls.

Even when opponents press high up the pitch, he keeps his cool and takes the time needed to position himself and play the ball out with a clean pass. That’s Cubarsí in a nutshell.

The human values and humility learnt at home

Beyond his reading of the game and technical qualities, Pau Cubarsí’s true strength lies in the upbringing he received in Estanyol.

The carpentry trade and his family environment also instilled in him the fundamental human values needed to handle early success: humility, hard work and an appreciation for the simple things in life.

Cubarsí maintains a down-to-earth perspective on football and understands that his family’s business is an essential part of his identity.

In an interview on ‘TV3’, the footballer made his vision for the future clear: “If one day football doesn’t go well, the carpentry business will always be there – that much is clear.”

For his part, the 19-year-old centre-back, who has been nominated twice for the Kopa Trophy, explained the role his parents play in his day-to-day life.

On that point, he said that they keep a close eye on his behaviour both on and off the pitch. “My family keeps me grounded. If I don’t stay humble, I get a slap on the back of the head,” he admitted on ‘RAC1’.

“When you see the effort your parents put in, that becomes a benchmark” – Pau Cubarsí

In conclusion, Pau Cubarsí demonstrates that the calibre of a top-flight footballer is not measured solely by his tactical or physical performance.

Talent opened the doors to the elite for him, but it is his human values that give him the maturity and resilience to take on any challenge.

With humility as his guiding principle and his feet firmly on the ground, the young centre-back continues to build his career on the most solid of foundations: those of his own home.