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This Saturday’s LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis at the Estadi Olímpic is a big one, and it will be special for one player in particular.
Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, better known as Gavi, is now a regular starter for Barça and has played 100 times for the first team. He has become the youngest player to reach a centenary of games for Los Blaugrana, achieving this feat at 19 years and 29 days.
However, he was in the Real Betis academy just eight years ago.
He may be young and small, but Gavi is the most recent winner of the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy awards. His innate feel for the beautiful game makes up for his lack of experience and size.
Golden Boy is given to the best Under-21 footballer playing in a European top league, while Kopa (also for players under 21), is selected by former Ballon d’Or recipients.
That understanding of the sport is partly natural and partly taught.
Born in the province of Seville in Spain, Gavi has always stood out among his peers and, as he was growing up, he was nicknamed Oliver Atom after the star player of the Captain Tsubasa manga series.
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Those natural skills saw him join the Real Betis academy and then, at the age of 11, moved to Catalonia to enrol at FC Barcelona’s prestigious La Masia school.
There, he often played with footballers older than him and always held his own, learning how to use his talents most effectively.
That prepared Gavi for his early ascent to senior football, first competing against full-grown adults when he made his debut for Barcelona B on February 21 2021 at 16.
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Later that year, on August 29, Ronald Koeman trusted Gavi enough to give the youngster his debut with the first team against Getafe CF in a LaLiga fixture, when the midfielder was only 17.
Immediately, Gavi looked like he belonged in the Spanish top tier.
Gavi’s ability to play either side of a midfield three or even as a left winger has made him an integral player for FC Barcelona.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he always gives his all and, despite his small frame, he can shrug off defenders as he dribbles his way through the lines, always seeking a killer pass.
This has made him a regular starter for the Catalan club and also for the Spanish national team. In October 2021, just 62 days after his 17th birthday, Gavi made history when he started for the Spanish national team in a Uefa Nations League semi-final against Italy.
The midfielder became the youngest-ever player to feature for his country’s senior side, a record which his team-mate Lamine Yamal just overtook.
Gavi has already played 23 games for La Roja and scored four goals, one of them against Costa Rica at the World Cup in Qatar last year.
By netting at just at 18, he became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup since Pelé 64 years earlier.
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Despite this almost unprecedented rapid rise, Gavi remains humble and always recalls his origins and his time coming through at Real Betis’ academy.
He explained in a recent interview with Spanish newspaper Marca:
When Gavi takes to the pitch on Saturday night to face Real Betis, many memories will surely come to mind for the young superstar.
LaLiga fixtures this weekend
Friday
Rayo Vallecano vs Deportivo Alaves, 9pm.
Saturday
Athletic Club vs Cadiz, 2pm
Valencia vs Atletico Madrid, 4.15pm
Celta Vigo vs Mallorca, 6.30pm
Barcelona vs Real Betis, 9pm.
Sunday
Getafe vs Osasuna, 2pm
Villarreal vs Almería, 4.15pm
Sevilla vs Las Palmas, 6.30pm
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad, 9pm.
