As the UEFA competitions conclude and Europe’s top leagues wrap up their campaigns, the football world turns its attention to the FIFA Club World Cup, where young talents aim to shine and boost their chances of winning the Golden Boy Award.
The Award, established in 2003 by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, is given annually to the most impressive male footballer under the age of 21, with criteria of playing in European top-tier leagues.
Over the years, talented footballers who have taken home the prize, have gone on to become world beaters and global superstars, cementing the award’s reputation as a predictor of future footballing greatness.
Notable winners like Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (2005), Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (2004), AS Monaco’s Kylian Mbappé (2017), and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (2020) have not only proven the award’s credibility.
They have also gone on to dominate club football, achieving significant success on the international stage, winning major titles such as the Ballon d’Or, Champions League, and World Cup.
This year, the Golden Boy award race highlights PSG’s electrifying Désiré Doué and Barcelona’s standout La Masia graduates, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, for their remarkable performances at their clubs.
With plenty of football still to be played in 2025, these players have earned their spots on the shortlist due to exceptional displays that set them apart.
Désiré Doué
At 19, Doué made history in the Champions League final, becoming the fourth-youngest scorer with a brace against Inter Milan.
The Frenchman set up Achraf Hakimi’s opening goal and later scored when his shot deflected off Federico Dimarco past Yann Sommer, marking him as the first player to contribute two goals in a single half of a UCL final.
His domestic form, with 24 goal-and-assist contributions in his debut season at PSG, positions him as a leading contender for the award.
Pau Cubarsí
The Centre-back, who turned 18 in January 2025, has been a cornerstone of Barcelona’s defence, helping them secure La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
Under new manager Hansi Flick, Cubarsí has made over 50 appearances and set a record as the youngest defender to start a Champions League quarter-final at 17 years and 79 days. His stellar campaign makes him a strong candidate for the Golden Boy Award.
Dean Huijsen
The 20-year-old former Bournemouth defender played a key role in the English side achieving a record 56-point Premier League season.
Standing at 6’5”, Huijsen’s composure, ball-playing ability, and physicality earned him a nomination for the 2024/25 Premier League Young Player of the Year and a senior Spain call-up.
Ranking highly among Premier League defenders in key metrics, he attracted interest from top clubs before Real Madrid triggered his release clause ahead of the Club World Cup.
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Under Mikel Arteta, the versatile defender has enjoyed a breakout season, becoming Arsenal’s youngest Champions League starter since 2011 in a 3-0 victory over Monaco.
Capable of playing as a midfielder or left-back, Lewis-Skelly’s technical skill and composure have shone in high-stakes matches, including his debut in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City and a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid.
His consistent first-team contributions have earned him a spot in Tuttosport’s Golden Boy rankings.
Ethan Nwaneri
The midfielder’s mature performances under Mikel Arteta have cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s top under-21 talents.
In 2022, at just 15 years and 181 days, Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest-ever debutant, coming off the bench against Brentford.
This season, he has excelled in an Arsenal shirt, scoring 9 goals and providing 2 assists in 37 appearances.
His versatility, shining as both a winger and central midfielder, has marked him as a standout contender for the Golden Boy award.
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Notable Mention
Lamine Yamal
The 17-year-old who won the award last year, succeeding Jude Bellingham, is not eligible to win this year, as it’s one of the criteria of the award.
The young Spanish star has enjoyed another stellar season with the Blaugrana, which has seen him lift the treble, also advance to the UEFA Champions League Semi-final.
However, the Golden Boy Award rules prevent consecutive wins, even if they remain eligible by age, which means Yamal stands no chance.
The award’s history confirms this: 21 editions, 21 unique winners.
For instance, Lionel Messi won in 2005 at 18 but was never selected again. Similarly, Matthijs de Ligt (2018 winner) and Kylian Mbappé (2017 winner) were not re-elected in subsequent years, despite remaining age-eligible for the Golden Boy award.
Voting Process
A list of 100 Eligible players is compiled by the Originators of the award, before being narrowed down to a shortlist of 25 (20 Based on the Golden Boy Football Benchmark Index plus 5 wildcards picked by Tuttosport editors).
The Voters are sports journalists from Top European publications such as Bild, The Times, Marca, L’equipe, etc, who then assign points to their top Five players, 10 points for first, seven for second, five for third, three for fourth, and one for fifth.
The player with the most points wins.
Awards By Position
Since the Golden Boy Award began in 2003, it has primarily been won by forwards, with five of the last ten winners playing in forward roles, four as midfielders, and one as a defender. Notably, Matthijs de Ligt, the only defender in this group, won in 2018 while at Ajax. Below is the list of the last ten Golden Boy winners by their primary positions:
- 2024: Lamine Yamal (Forward/Winger)
- 2023: Jude Bellingham (Midfielder)
- 2022: Gavi (Midfielder)
- 2021: Pedri (Midfielder)
- 2020: Erling Haaland (Forward/Striker)
- 2019: João Félix (Forward/Attacking Midfielder)
- 2018: Matthijs de Ligt (Defender/Centre-back)
- 2017: Kylian Mbappé (Forward/Winger)
- 2016: Renato Sanches (Midfielder)
- 2015: Anthony Martial (Forward/Striker)
This list highlights the award’s tendency to favour attacking players, with de Ligt’s defensive win standing out as an exception.
The Golden Boy award rankings remain fluid, with numerous competitions still to be played before the ceremony in late 2025, allowing players to strengthen their case for the award.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Focus Images
Recording Date: 25.05.2025