Spanish · Los Palacios y Villafrancas, Spain · Born 5 August 2004The youngest Ballon d'Or finalist in history — Barcelona's ferocious midfielder who plays at age 20 like a veteran.
Pablo Martín Páez Gavira — Gavi — was born in Los Palacios y Villafrancas, Spain in 2004. Barcelona's La Masia produced him and he made his first-team debut at 17. In his second senior season he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or aged 18 — the youngest finalist in the award's history. He won the Nations League with Spain in 2021 and the Kopa Trophy as world's best under-21 player in 2022. He won Euro 2024 with Spain — his country's fourth European Championship — as one of the tournament's finest individual performers. He won La Liga with Barcelona in 2023. His playing style — ferociously competitive, technically immaculate under pressure, pressing with an intensity that belies his slight frame — drew immediate comparisons to Xavi. A serious cruciate ligament injury in November 2023 ended his season, but he returned in time to contribute to Spain's European Championship win. At 20 he is considered one of the three most talented young players in world football.
Becoming Barcelona's youngest ever La Liga player at 17 years old
How They Played
Dynamic central midfielder with excellent dribbling and press resistance
Lasting Impact
Gavi represents the continued success of Barcelona's La Masia academy in producing world-class talent and has established himself as a key figure for both club and country at an extraordinarily young age.
Career Honours
- Euro (Spain 2024)
- La Liga (2023)
- Nations League (2021)
- Kopa Trophy (2022)
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 2021–2024 | 111 | 17 | #6 |
 Spain | — | 42 | 3 | — |
Spanish Athletes