The 2025 Golden Boy Award race is reaching its climax as Europe’s young stars prepare for the ceremony, set to coincide with the Ballon d’Or event on September 22 in Paris.
This prestigious award, celebrating the best under-21 talent in Europe’s top leagues since 2003, evaluates performances from October 2024 to August 2025, considering factors like playing time, goals, assists, and silverware.
With the 2024/25 season concluding with standout performances across La Liga, Ligue 1, and beyond, the latest rankings reflect a thrilling battle among the continent’s brightest prospects, driven by data and recent form in domestic and international arenas, as reported by European Golden Boy football.
Leading the pack is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, reclaiming the top spot with his record-breaking season, amassing over 20 goals and assists while steering Spain to Nations League glory.
PSG’s Désiré Doué follows in second, his 19-year-old flair—12 assists in Ligue 1 and a Champions League final contribution—cementing his rise.
Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí secures third, the 18-year-old defender’s 95.4 rating for his La Liga and European defensive mastery standing out.
Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen ranks fourth; the 20-year-old’s aerial dominance (72% win rate) during his Bournemouth time shines through.
Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly takes fifth, the 18-year-old left-back’s 2.1 tackles per game in the Premier League earning praise.
Rounding out the top 10 are PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery (sixth), whose 100+ senior appearances yield 8 goals; Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız (seventh), a creative force; Bayern’s Ethan Nwaneri (eighth), an emerging English talent; Ajax’s Jorrel Hato (ninth), a versatile Dutch prospect; and Real Madrid’s Arda Güler (tenth), whose bench impact keeps him in contention.
With voters—journalists from over 50 nations—set to decide, a late international flourish could tip the scales, but Yamal’s consistency positions him as the frontrunner to retain his crown.
As the curtain falls on the 2025 Golden Boy race, Lamine Yamal’s commanding lead signals Barcelona’s enduring legacy in nurturing world-class talent, but with Désiré Doué and Pau Cubarsí hot on his heels, the ceremony promises a nail-biting showdown.
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