Spanish newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo' reported that young Barcelona defender Pau Koubarci is close to achieving a remarkable milestone, as he could become the third youngest player in history to reach 20 matches in the Champions League before turning 19, thus equaling the records of Lamine Yamal and Zaire Emery, the only two who have reached this number at such a young age.

The newspaper pointed out that Koubarci, who has excelled since his debut with the first team, was named man of the match during his first Champions League appearance against Napoli, after delivering a strong defensive performance that received widespread praise from fans and critics.

The report clarified that coach Xavi Hernandez did not hesitate to trust the young defender, just as Louis van Gaal did when he gave Andres Iniesta his first opportunity at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges on October 29, 2002, when he was only 18 years old.

Koubarci began his journey with the first team on January 18, 2024, during a Copa del Rey match against Unionistas de Salamanca, before participating two months later in the second leg of the Round of 16 of the Champions League against Napoli at the Montjuïc Stadium, which ended with a 3-1 victory for Barcelona. He continued to shine in the quarter-finals against Paris Saint-Germain, securing his starting place in the team's back line.

The newspaper added that Koubarci, after just a year and a half since his debut, is now preparing to play his 20th match in the European competition, becoming the third youngest player in history to reach this number. It noted that Lamine Yamal currently has 25 Champions League matches, while Zaire Emery has played 31 matches, being the only two players to reach this number before turning nineteen.

The report emphasized that Koubarci's consistent performance gives him a great chance to continue making history, and he may become the most capped defender in Champions League history in the future, as the legend Paolo Maldini currently holds the record with 139 matches, followed by Sergio Ramos (137), Gerard Piqué (130), and Carles Puyol (120).