Gavi is 22 years old in 2026, born on 5 August 2004. Spain Midfielder for Barcelona.
Gavi joined Barcelona at 11, was in the first team at 17, and became Spain's youngest-ever player and scorer within a year. A torn ACL cost him Euro 2024 and nearly a full year, and a knee operation cost him more in 2025–26, but he came back to win the World Cup with Spain in 2026.
By the FootballDream editorial team. Facts checked against official records on . How we verify stats
| Appearances | 4 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 0 |
| Red Cards | — |
| Goals / Match | 0.00 |
📖 Gavi: Biography & Story
The fiercest midfielder in football: Barcelona's tiny dynamo from Seville.
Gavi is one of football's most unique players: a tiny midfielder (5'7") who plays with relentless intensity and absolutely refuses to be dominated. His engine, his press, his ability to win the ball back immediately and his technical sharpness make him one of the most difficult players to play against in world football.
He made his Barcelona debut at just 17 and immediately became a first-team regular, which is extraordinary given that Barcelona's midfield has historically included some of the greatest players in history (Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets). He won the UEFA Nations League with Spain in 2021, the EURO 2020 (played in 2021) at just 16 years of age, and was the youngest-ever player nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
A devastating ACL injury suffered in November 2023 during a Spain vs Georgia match cost him the entire 2023/24 season. His return to full fitness and the 2026/27 campaign is one of La Liga's most anticipated stories.
🗺️ Career Journey
Started at Betis in Seville before La Masia scouts moved
Joined age 11; rose through every youth level
First-team debut at 17; EURO 2020 winner; ACL injury 2023
🏆 Honours & Achievements
👨👩👦 Personal Life & Family
Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, known as Gavi, was born on 5 August 2004 in Los Palacios y Villafranca, a small town approximately 30 kilometres south of Seville. He grew up in a footballing family, his father Pablo Páez was a local amateur footballer, and joined Real Betis's youth academy before Barcelona's La Masia scouts discovered him when he was 11 years old. He moved to Barcelona's academy, leaving his hometown and family at a very young age.
Gavi is fiercely private about his personal life. He comes from a working-class family in the Seville area and has spoken about how leaving home at 11 for Barcelona was an enormous emotional sacrifice for both him and his parents. His parents have been at every major match. He is in a relationship with Patricia Nogueras and the couple welcomed their first child in 2024.
💡 Did You Know?: Gavi Trivia
He was the youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or, at just 17 years old.
He has been compared to Andrés Iniesta repeatedly: the highest possible compliment at Barcelona.
Despite being one of the smallest players at La Liga level (5'7"), he wins more physical duels than most midfielders.
He left his hometown of Los Palacios at age 11 to join La Masia: an enormous sacrifice for a child from a tight-knit Southern Spanish family.
He won the EURO 2020 with Spain (played in summer 2021) at just 16 years old: one of the youngest winners of a major international tournament.
Gavi is a midfielder for Barcelona. Add them to your Fantasy XI within a 100-credit budget and score from their real match stats.
Add Gavi to Fantasy XI →Gavi: facts worth knowing
- He was born in Los Palacios y Villafranca, near Seville, in 2004 and scored 95 goals for Real Betis' youth sides before Barcelona signed him in 2015.
- He made his Barcelona debut in August 2021 and his Spain debut that October against Italy, the youngest player to represent Spain's senior team.
- His goal against the Czech Republic in June 2022 made him Spain's youngest senior goalscorer. At the 2022 World Cup he scored against Costa Rica.
- He won the Golden Boy and the Kopa Trophy in 2022.
- He scored once and set up two in the 3–1 Supercopa final win over Real Madrid in January 2023.
- He tore his ACL in November 2023 and was out for 348 days, missing Euro 2024. He made two appearances as Spain won the 2026 World Cup.
Quick quiz: how well do you know Gavi?
Three questions, answers explained. No sign-up needed.