Golden Boy Award 2025: Top 10 Contenders (Currently Ranked)

The Golden Boy award, established by Tuttosport, is a prestigious accolade given to the best young European footballer. The criteria for the prize remain that a young player must be under 21 and play in European top-tier leagues. It’s one of the awards where fans look at the history of players who won the award and later became greats. As Lamine Yamal is just 18, most people wonder if he can win the prize. However, considering he won it last year, the Golden Boy award will have a new name under its trophy.

This year, Désiré Doué, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Pau Cubarsí are notable nominees, and they look like favorites to win the Golden Boy award. Moreover, Doué scored two goals in the UEFA Champions League final, which will probably give him an edge over his opponents. Thus, we look at the Golden Boy ranking 2025 and the number of players looking to win this prestigious Golden Boy award.

List of Golden Boy Nominees 2025

The list of Golden Boy nominees 2025 will include some of the best young teenagers in football. The talent on the European stage in recent times displays why the European game continues to grow to the next level. Multiple teams scout rare gems and give them the platform to shine, be it the English Premier League, La Liga, or Ligue 1. Hence, we explore the Golden Boy award nominees for 2025; these are the ten players who could win the prize.

How We Ranked the Nominees for Golden Boy Award 2025?

The Golden Boy nominees 2025 list was curated by various factors, which help rank these young talents. With the level of competition in the playing field, proper parameters for ranking these players are essential. Thus, we ranked them according to four parameters: Individual Stats, Champions League Stats, International Stats, and Trophies Won.

• Individual Stats: Individual Stats help us determine the players’ quality on the field. Whether a defender, winger, or midfielder, stats give us an understanding of these players and help us rate them better.
• Champions League Stats: Most players dream of playing in the UEFA Champions League, an elite competition. Understanding the players’ stats in this competition is critical. Goals, progressive passes, and everything else help us rank these players.
• International Stats: Some of these players might be young, but they have experienced heads on the international stage. They show maturity beyond their years to lead their country at a young age.
• Trophies Won: To rate any player, trophies won become a parameter for most players. In this day and age, where winners are celebrated and losers are often forgotten, a player’s trophy count creates a winning mentality, and it remains crucial to the rankings of a player.

Golden Boy Ranking 2025: Top 10 Nominees

The Golden Boy award nominees give us an understanding of the players who have great potential and aim to become the greatest icons of the future. Unlike last year, when Lamine Yamal became the clear winner, the Golden Boy award 2025 promises to have some thrills and spills. The battle seems intense, and the Golden Boy ranking 2025 will determine the next big thing. So, let’s start with the list of talented youngsters, in descending order, from the least favorite to win the Golden Boy award. Please note that the stats are taken from their league performances, apart from the appearances section.

10. Jorrel Hato (Ajax and Eredivisie)

With all the youngsters on the list, Jorrel Hato remains one of the most sought-after left-backs in the world. European giants have been circling Ajax to sniff at a chance of bringing him to their clubs. Although Ajax’s recent campaigns leave much to be desired, Hato’s performances have stunned most scouts.
The strong left back who can play as a center back wins most of his duels, scored two goals, and created six assists in the Eredivisie. Despite Ajax not playing in the UEFA Champions League, Hato earned six caps with the Netherlands. Despite being 19, the player has what it takes to steal the limelight in the coming years. But his lack of trophies could hurt his chances of winning the Golden Boy award.

09. Endrick (Real Madrid and La Liga)

If there is one player who has fallen under the radar, it’s Endrick. Dubbed to be the next Golden Boy award winner from Brazil, Endrick failed to explode into life in the previous season. Considering that Real Madrid signed Kylian Mbappe last season, Endrick’s chances of starting games have become slim. Yet, he made some appearances but couldn’t get his goal-scoring touch.
When given a chance, he’s a stunning finisher, and his underrated strength becomes an issue for the defenders. With an xG of 0.63, Endrick promises goals when he’s on the turf. Therefore, the young Brazilian has time on his shoulders to become a superstar. Yet, he ranks 9th in the Golden Boy ranking 2025.

08. Tom Bischof (Bayern Munich and Bundesliga)

Finding a Toni Kroos replacement remains Germany’s top priority right now, and Tom Bischof’s emergence as a Golden Boy award contender deserves attention. The player joined Bayern Munich and will provide them fresh legs in the heart of the midfield. An all-action central midfielder, Bischof’s passing abilities and ball recovery skills will help the German giants.
Bischof can spot a runner and play the perfect pass with his unique passing ability technique, or even recover the ball efficiently by stopping the opposition. Bischof’s ceiling remains high, and he’s the eighth favorite player in the Golden Boy ranking 2025.

07. Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain and Ligue 1)

Warren Zaire-Emery is one of the hottest prospects in world football. The PSG central midfielder has played in 129 matches and is 19 years old. The talented teenager picks up perfect passes from the middle of the park and dictates the tempo of PSG. Moreover, with Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz starting most matches, he’s not a first-team starter anymore but one for the future.
However, the French teenager remains a vital cog in PSG’s system whenever he starts a game. Moreover, he makes appearances from the bench and tries to make a difference. But in the Golden Boy award rankings, Warren Zaire-Emery stays seventh, and winning the Champions League helps his cause in this list.

06. Kenan Yildiz ( Juventus and Serie A)

Who better to make the Golden Boy nominees 2025 list than Kenan Yildiz? At this rate, the 20-year-old winger will become an untouchable player for Juventus for years to come. They are in rebuilding mode after years of success. Players like Yildiz make a difference for the team. The tricky winger is a handful for the defenders.
He takes a lot of shots with 2.28 per 90 and creates a lot of chances for his teammates. Yildiz manages 2.2 successful dribbles per 90, and he’s one of the star players of Juventus. Thus, he’s one player who could win the Golden Boy award.

05. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal and English Premier League)

The Golden Boy Award 2025 is heating up, and Ethan Nwaneri is one of the best players of Arsenal and one of the hottest prospects from the Hale End academy. The youth academy possesses some of the hottest talents, like Bukayo Saka, one of Arsenal’s essential players. Therefore, Nwaneri is the new player on the list. The right winger cuts inside and, with his wand of a left foot, curls the ball into the net on multiple occasions last season.
Nwaneri creates multiple chances for his teammates, and his incredible dribbling technique creates space to shoot the ball. Nwaneri scored a crucial goal in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory against Manchester City in the Premier League, announcing his arrival on the grandest stage. His team reached the Champions League semifinals last time, which became crucial to his rankings.

04. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and La Liga)

Nobody expected Dean Huijsen to become a superstar and sign for Real Madrid after his stunning exploits against AFC Bournemouth last season. The Golden Boy award race heats up with Huijsen, one of the names chosen to win the award. However, he won no trophies but became a mainstay at the heart of the Cherries’ defense.
He was one of the first names on the team sheet, and the tall defender became an aerially imposing player. He scored the odd goal, had 3.90 recoveries, and became a defensive stalwart by winning 60.7% of aerial duels. Huijsen’s career trajectory looks remarkable, and hopefully, he can produce the goods for Real Madrid.

03. Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal and English Premier League)

After Bukayo Saka came up from Hale End, it’s time for another superstar to come through the ranks. Myles Lewis-Skelly took that opportunity and has never looked back. From getting mocked in his first match against Manchester City and then mocking Erling Haaland following his goal against the Citizens, Lewis-Skelly’s rapid rise stunned everyone.
He started as a midfielder but has now made his left-back position his own. With great strength, ball control, and determination to win every duel, he’s looking to win trophies with the club. The player continues to come into the midfield and has become a solid ball carrier with his dribbling abilities. The Golden Boy award will be on MLS’ mind, and he can certainly become a star for years to come, even if he doesn’t win the prize.

02. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona and La Liga)

The 18-year-old center back, Pau Cubarsí, became one of the most crucial players for Barcelona last season. It is eye-opening to imagine him as this young center back who’s coming out of his age to become a mature defender. Like Yamal, Cubarsí ranks second in the Golden Boy award ranking and has an outright chance to win the award.
Barcelona won the La Liga, and he played a crucial role in it. He played balls from the back, and his solid positioning sense helped him stop multiple players from getting past him. His composure for his age is exemplary, and the Spanish star will probably put his body on the line for Barcelona for ages to come.

01. Désiré Doué (PSG and Ligue 1)

The UEFA Champions League Finals hero, Désiré Doué, is the latest French superstar to explode onto the scene. Ever since Thierry Henry spoke about him in an episode of the Overlap on how to take on players, he’s done just that. The Golden Boy award 2025 would probably go to Doué for his creative exploits this season.
Moreover, scoring two goals in the UEFA Champions League final will undoubtedly help his cause to claim the award. He’s a tricky winger, physically imposing and an efficient finisher who leaves opposition players in his dust. Thus, Doué can win the prize this time after his productive season with the Golden Boy award nominees in place.

Golden Boy Nominees 2025: Honorary Mentions

Likewise, apart from these Top 10 favorites, there are some honorable mentions for players who had a solid season. Eliesse Ben Seghir of Monaco is a solid winger who’s tricky and can easily score goals. It’s still early days for Arda Guler of Real Madrid, and he hopes to find his feet at the club. With Luka Modric leaving a void, it might be time for Guler to shine. Moreover, other players deserve an honorable mention for the Golden Boy award.

Where to Watch Golden Boy Award 2025?

Fans can watch the Golden Boy award ceremony through European sports news outlets, websites, and the official Golden Boy Awards social media. Usually, there’s no screening for the Golden Boy award ceremony, and fans can take note of the details through various sports media websites.