Spain needed cool heads to lift the World Cup, and Pau Cubarsí supplied one for 120 minutes. In a cagey Final at MetLife Stadium, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. The match drew 80,663 fans in East Rutherford and featured one Argentina red card. Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić kept a firm grip as both top-ranked nations battled for inches. Through it all, Spain’s FC Barcelona center-back barely put a foot wrong. His calm distribution and timely defending stood out on a night when margins were thin. On Sofascore, he earned an 8.2 out of 10. That number summed up a performance built on accuracy and clarity under pressure.

Stage, stakes, and a spotless sheet

Spain entered as FIFA ranking No. 2 against No. 1 Argentina, which set the tone for a true heavyweight Final. It went to extra time, and Spain found the decisive moment late, sealing a 1-0 victory. The clean sheet mattered more than anything, and Cubarsí’s work sat right at the core of it. He played the full 120 minutes at center-back and never looked rattled. Argentina pushed, the atmosphere grew tense, and Spain’s back line stayed aligned. The red card tilted the balance, but Spain still had to manage territory and tempo. That is where Cubarsí’s decisions with and without the ball were so valuable. Sofascore captures that blend with the 8.2 Sofascore Rating, which reflects strong two-way impact.

A passing clinic at MetLife

Cubarsí completed 121 of 126 passes, a crisp 96 percent on the biggest stage. He moved Spain forward, not just sideways, with 45 of 48 passes completed in the opposition half. In his own half, he went 76 of 78, which helped Spain reset and breathe when needed. He also mixed in 2 accurate long balls from 4 attempts and produced 1 key pass. With 139 touches, the ball kept finding him, and he kept finding teammates. He carried the ball 37 times for a total progression of 107.6 meters, choosing the right moments to step in. Even chipped in with 1 shot on target, worth 0.03 xG. It was sensible risk management rather than fireworks, exactly what finals ask for.

Defensive work that travels

The infographic tells the story simply: eight defensive contributions recorded on the match graphic, built around clean, decisive actions. He made 6 clearances to defuse danger and added 5 ball recoveries. Two tackles, with one won, show he picked his moments instead of diving in. In duels he went 7 of 10 overall, including 2 aerials won and 2 lost, a solid return given the opponent. He was fouled 3 times, a nod to how hard Argentina had to work to disrupt him. Possession lost stood at just 5, which is outstanding for a center-back seeing so much of the ball. The result was a defensive platform Spain could trust across 120 minutes. Keep it tidy, stay compact, and let quality at the other end decide.

What the numbers say about his rise

Zooming out to his season with Spain, the consistency jumps off the page. Across 8 appearances, his average Sofascore Rating sits at 7.56, with 8 starts and 7 clean sheets. Passing remains elite at 96.1 percent accuracy, with 671 accurate passes from 698 attempted. He has 31 clearances, 27 duels won, and a top speed of 34.1 km/h, plus 66.3 kilometers covered. It is the profile of a modern center-back who reads the game and rarely forces plays. No goals or assists yet, but his expected assists total of 0.73 hints at the occasional line-splitting pass. Add in 15 accurate long balls at 60 percent and you get range as well as security. For FC Barcelona, and for Spain, that blend has serious long-term value.

On a night made for cool heads, Cubarsí delivered one of the most controlled displays of the tournament. Spain left MetLife with the trophy, and their young defender left with an 8.2 and a heap of trust. If you enjoy the detail behind performances like this, Sofascore has all the match data, heat maps, and Ratings in one place. Finals are won on fine margins; Cubarsí helped Spain own them.