Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen was the opponent when Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí announced himself on the biggest stage in European football.

Osimhen’s stock soared after his heroics with Napoli in the 2022/23 Serie A campaign, when he guided the Partenopei to their first Scudetto title in 33 years.

The Naples-based club achieved this milestone under manager Luciano Spalletti, with Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia leading the line.

Osimhen, who netted 26 league goals that season to clinch the Capocannoniere award, was one of the most sought-after strikers in Europe.

Then came the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie against Barcelona in March 2024.

A keenly contested first leg at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium ended 1-1, with Osimhen cancelling out Robert Lewandowski’s second-half strike.

Ahead of the return fixture at Montjuïc, then Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández made a bold call, handing 17-year-old Cubarsí his Champions League debut at centre-back.

The gamble paid off. The teenager won Man of the Match and limited Osimhen to a single shot on target as Barcelona won 3-1 and progressed to the quarter-finals 4-2 on aggregate.

At 17 years and 50 days, Cubarsí became the youngest player to start a Champions League knockout-stage debut.

Cubarsí never looked back. He went on to become a world champion with Spain at 19 and was named Best Young Player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ahead of club and national teammate Lamine Yamal.

He is now a leading contender, alongside Yamal, to win the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.

Pau Cubarsi vs Napoli (H), UCL .
On his Champions League debut at the age of 17, he gave the "physical demon" Victor Osimhen no breathing room winning every single duel against the Nigerian and walked away with the MOTM. https://t.co/gUvSvvg4TP

— Rajdeep (@Rajdeep_C_18) March 30, 2026