The shortlist for the Golden Boy 2025 Award has been announced, highlighting 25 of Europe’s most talented footballers aged 21 and under.
Founded in 2003 by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, the award recognises the best young player competing in Europe over a full calendar year. Previous winners include Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal, who claimed the 2024 title.
Golden Boy 2025 Nominees
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)
ALSO READ: Why I ended friendship with Burna Boy, unfollowed him — Zlatan Ibile
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)
Wild Card Entrants
Jobe Bellingham (19, Borussia Dortmund, England)
Francesco Pio Esposito (19, Spezia, Italy)
Rodrigo Mora (18, Flamengo, Brazil)
Giovanni Leoni (18, Sampdoria, Italy)
Aleksandar Stanković (19, Red Star Belgrade, Serbia)
The 2025 edition features nominees from 13 nations and clubs, with France leading the list. The winner of the Golden Boy 2025 Award will be revealed later this year by Tuttosport, continuing its tradition of honouring the next generation of football superstars.