Thirteen nations and clubs are represented among this year’s 25 contenders.
The shortlist for the Golden Boy 2025 Award has officially been unveiled, highlighting 25 of the most promising footballers under the age of 21 playing across Europe’s top leagues.
Established in 2003 by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, the Golden Boy 2025 Award honors the brightest young talent competing in Europe’s premier divisions—serving as a counterpart to France Football’s Kopa Trophy.
The key difference is that while the Kopa is based on seasonal performance, the Golden Boy 2025 evaluates achievements over the entire calendar year.
Among the previous winners are some of football’s most illustrious names—Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and most recently, Lamine Yamal.
Golden Boy 2025 – Nations and Clubs in the Spotlight
Thirteen nations are represented across 13 clubs in the 2025 shortlist.
France leads the way with five nominees, followed closely by England with four.
Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, the reigning Champions League holders, boast three players each—more than any other club.
PSG’s Désiré Doué is considered one of the frontrunners after guiding his side to their first-ever Champions League title.
Doué, who finished runner-up to Yamal in last year’s Kopa Trophy voting, could become the second Frenchman in eight years to claim the award.
A victory for him would also see France surpass England for the most Golden Boy winners by nationality, as both countries currently sit tied on three.
Spain remains the most successful nation with five titles.
Other major contenders include Arda Güler, Franco Mastantuono (both from Real Madrid), and Estêvão from Chelsea—three creative prodigies already making waves in Europe’s elite competitions.
Full List of Nominees (Age – Club – Country)
| Player | Age | Club | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pau Cubarsí | 18 | Barcelona | Spain |
| Désiré Doué | 20 | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Dean Huijsen | 20 | Real Madrid | Spain |
| Kenan Yıldız | 20 | Juventus | Türkiye |
| Myles Lewis-Skelly | 19 | Arsenal | England |
| Warren Zaïre-Emery | 19 | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Arda Güler | 20 | Real Madrid | Türkiye |
| Franco Mastantuono | 18 | Real Madrid | Argentina |
| Ethan Nwaneri | 18 | Arsenal | England |
| Jorrel Hato | 19 | Chelsea | Netherlands |
| Geovany Quenda | 18 | Sporting CP | Portugal |
| Estêvão | 18 | Chelsea | Brazil |
| Leny Yoro | 19 | Manchester United | France |
| Senny Mayulu | 19 | Paris Saint-Germain | France |
| Nico O’Reilly | 20 | Manchester City | England |
| Eliesse Ben Seghir | 20 | Bayer Leverkusen | Morocco |
| Victor Froholdt | 19 | Porto | Denmark |
| Lucas Bergvall | 19 | Tottenham Hotspur | Sweden |
| Archie Gray | 19 | Tottenham Hotspur | England |
| Mamadou Sarr | 20 | Strasbourg | France |
Golden Boy 2025 Wild Cards
Each year, Tuttosport’s editorial team selects five additional “Wild Card” nominees—emerging players who have impressed throughout the year.
This year’s list features Jobe Bellingham, Rodrigo Mora, and Giovanni Leoni among others.
| Player | Age | Club | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jobe Bellingham | 20 | Borussia Dortmund | England |
| Francesco Pio Esposito | 20 | Inter | Italy |
| Rodrigo Mora | 18 | Porto | Portugal |
| Giovanni Leoni | 18 | Liverpool | Italy |
| Aleksandar Stanković | 20 | Club Brugge | Serbia |
With Jobe Bellingham’s inclusion, England now joins France as the most represented nation this year, both boasting five players each.
Should Bellingham win, he would follow in the footsteps of his older brother Jude, who captured the title in 2023—making the Bellinghams the first siblings to ever both win the award.
Why Lamine Yamal Isn’t Nominated
Despite being widely regarded as one of the best young players in world football, Lamine Yamal is absent from the 2025 shortlist.
The Barcelona prodigy claimed the Golden Boy in 2024, and by rule, previous winners cannot be nominated again the following year.
The restriction aims to prevent domination by a single player, even if they remain eligible by age.
While Yamal continues to redefine what’s possible for a teenager in elite football, this year’s edition guarantees a new name will be etched into the award’s storied history.
