Here’s a refined history of Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, widely known as Gavi:
⚽ Early Life & Youth Career
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Born 5 August 2004 in Los Palacios y Villafranca, Seville province, Spain (en.wikipedia.org).
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Started youth football at La Liara Balompié, then joined Real Betis (2013–2015) (en.wikipedia.org).
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At age 11 (2015), moved to FC Barcelona's La Masia academy (dhlab.quantitative.emory.edu).
🏟️ Rise Through Barça
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Quickly progressed through Barcelona's youth ranks and debuted for Barça B in February 2021 (en.wikipedia.org).
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Signed first professional contract in September 2020 and was fast-tracked into the first-team squad .
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Made senior La Liga debut on 29 August 2021 vs. Getafe (aged 17); became Barça's fourth-youngest debutant (en.wikipedia.org).
🌍 International Breakthrough
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Called up by Spain on 6 October 2021; debuted against Italy in the Nations League at 17 years, 62 days, the youngest-ever Spain debutant (fcbarcelona.com).
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Scored first Spain goal on 5 June 2022 vs Czech Republic at 17 years, 304 days, again setting a new youngest-scorer record (pt.wikipedia.org).
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🏆 Achievements & Awards
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Club titles with Barça: La Liga (2022‑23, 2024‑25), Copa del Rey (2024‑25), Supercopa de España (2023, 2025) (en.wikipedia.org).
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Won Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy in 2022 — top accolades for U21 talent (en.wikipedia.org).
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Named in IFFHS Men's Youth World & UEFA U20 Teams (2022, 2023) (en.wikipedia.org).
⛽ Playing Style & Profile
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A combative, technically gifted box-to-box central midfielder, known for ball control, vision, and tenacity (fcbarcelona.com).
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Standing at ~1.73 m (5'8″), plays primarily in central midfield but can also operate further forward or on the wing (transfermarkt.us).
🔄 Setback & Comeback
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Suffered a serious ACL tear and meniscus injury in November 2023 during an international qualifier versus Georgia; sidelined ~11 months (fcbarcelona.com).
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In early 2025, renewed contract with Barça until June 2030, marking the club’s faith in his post-injury resurgence (cadenaser.com).
📊 Stats at a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Barça Appearances | 108 caps, 6 goals (as of 25 May 2025) (en.wikipedia.org) |
| Spain Caps | 28 caps, 5 goals |
| Market Value | Valued between €60–95 million in 2025 |
🧭 Significance & Legacy
Gavi symbolizes La Masia's enduring spirit: homegrown talent stepping up in tough times, delivering impactful performances, and winning top honors early in his career. His aggressive yet elegant midfield play, record-breaking international feats, and resilience through injury position him as a future leader for both Barça and Spain.
Want to explore more?
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View Gavi in action: the included images show his journey from academy to senior pitch.
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Check highlights: Ask if you'd like a video reel of his career so far.
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Track form & updates: his recovery and stats continue to evolve as of 2025—happy to provide any updates!