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. Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal claimed the prize last year in 2024. However, this year, the Golden Boy honour will have a new name under its trophy.

The notable nominees list of 25 revealed recently includes the likes of Arda Guler, Désiré Doué, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Pau Cubarsí are notable nominees, and they look like favourites to win the Golden Boy award. Moreover, a few new inclusions have fresh faces along with well-established youngsters, which will probably give him an edge over his opponents. Thus, we have shortlisted the top names in the Golden Boy ranking 2025 and the number of players looking to win this prestigious Golden Boy award.

List of Golden Boy Nominees 2025: Final List Revealed

The list of Golden Boy nominees 2025 will include some of the best young teenagers from top football leagues. 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 this year.

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 elite competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League. 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 Candidates to Win the Award

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 favourite 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 (Chelsea and Premier League)

With all the youngsters on the list, Ajax product Jorrel Hato remains one of the most sought-after left-backs in the world joined Chelsea from Ajax in the summer. 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, built Dutch left-back who can play as a centre 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 senior team. Despite being 19, the player has what it takes to steal the limelight in the coming years. Playing in the EPL certainly increases his chances of winning the Golden Boy award.

9. Estevao (Chelsea and Premier League)

Chelsea's latest teenage signing, Esteavo, is already making a name for himself at Stamford Bridge since arriving in the English Premier League this summer. In the 2024-25 campaign, the lean-figured winger arrived in West London after an impressive season with Brazilian club Palmeiras. He netted 12 goals and provided 5 assists in 37 appearances, including the FIFA Club World Cup.

The Brazilian sensation is enjoying a breakout campaign with Chelsea. He scored the winner to clinch a 2-1 success over English champions Liverpool in the final minutes to send a wave of jubilation across Stamford Bridge. Esteavo has quickly established himself as a starter in Enzo Marsca's first team and emerged as a favourite in the Golden Boy award nominees.

8. Arda Guler (Real Madrid and La Liga)

We have another Turkish talent on the list, Arda Guler, winning the hearts of Real Madrid fans with his consistent performance in Los Blancos' colours. Xabi Alonso has given the 20-year-old an important role to keep the midfield engine running with his ability to influence the play with his playmaking, passing and quality to dictate the flow. Guler has made a stunning start to the 2025-26 season in a new role.

He is an incredibly talented midfielder who can play at multiple positions, from deep-lying playmaker, winger or a number 10. Under Xabi, his importance has grown significantly. After finding it difficult to get minutes in the first couple of seasons, the Turkish international has finally secured his place in the team.

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

The PSG central midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is one of the hottest prospects in world football. He has played over 140 matches and is 19 years old. The talented teenager picks up perfect passes from the middle of the park and dictates the tempo of Paris Saint-Germain. However, with Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz starting most matches, the Frenchman is not a first-team starter anymore but one for the future.

The French international 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. Steadily, the midfielder is growing his influence in Luis Enrique's team.

6. 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.
The English prodigy Nwaneri creates multiple chances for his teammates with his playmaking, 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, beating Real Madrid last season, which became crucial to his power rankings.

5. Kenan Yildiz (Juventus and Serie A)

Who better to make the Golden Boy nominees 2025 list than Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz? His rise to fame has been remarkable, wearing Juventus colours. At this rate, the 20-year-old winger has developed into a key player for Bianconeri in recent seasons. His move from Germany to Italy proved to be significant as he displayed his tremendous talent to crown the tag of one of the best young players in the world in 2025.

The Italian club Juventus are in rebuilding mode after years of success under Igo Tudor. Players like Yildiz make a difference for the team with their performances. The talented attacker is a threat to the defenders as 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.

4. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and La Liga)

Nobody expected Spanish prodigy Dean Huijsen to become a superstar and sign for Real Madrid after his stunning exploits against AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign. 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’ defence.

The Amsterdam-born defender has cemented himself as the first name on the team sheet at Los Blancos, and the tall defender has become an aerially imposing player for both club and country. 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 under Xabi Alonso.

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

After Bukayo Saka came up from Hale End academy, it’s time for another superstar to come through the ranks of Arsenal's prestigious academy. Myles Lewis-Skelly took that opportunity and has never looked back from the moment he won the trust of Spanish manager Mikel Arteta. 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 has stunned everyone, the English sensation started as a midfielder but shifted to the left-back position and excelled. 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 his mind, and he can certainly become a star for years to come, even if he doesn’t win the prize.

2. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona and La Liga)

The 18-year-old centre back sensation of Barcelona Pau Cubarsi, is a top candidate to take the prestigious accolade home. He became one of the most crucial players for Barcelona ever since breaking into the first team at Barca. Cubarsi is a homegrown talent hailing from Catalonia and rose through the ranks of La Masia. It is eye-opening to imagine him as this young centre back who’s coming out of his age to become a mature defender.

Like his fellow teammate Laime 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 the teenager 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.

1. Désiré Doué (PSG and Ligue 1)

The Champions League Finals hero for Paris Saint-Germain is Désiré Doué is the favourite candidate to claim the Golden Boy award this year. He became the latest French superstar to explode onto the scene in recent times as a rising star. The Golden Boy award 2025 would probably go to Doué for his creative exploits this season. Doue is a tricky winger who has developed his game to another level, having exceptional dribbling and finishing ability.

In one vs one situations, the winger's quick accelerations and skills leave opposition players in his dust. The 20-year-old forward can win the prize this time after his productive 2024-25 season, with the Golden Boy award nominees in place. Moreover, the French prodigy scored twice in the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan to help Parisians win their first European title. It will undoubtedly help his cause, putting him at the top to claim the award.

Golden Boy Award 2025: Dark Horse Candidates to Win the Award

Likewise, apart from these top 10 favourites, there are some honourable mentions for players who had a solid season. With that being said, let's take a look at players who deserve an honourable mention for the Golden Boy award after the Golden Boy ranking 2025 is out.