Tuttosport has unveiled the final 25-man shortlist for the 2026 Golden Boy award, the prize that crowns Europe's finest under-21 talent. Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí is the early frontrunner, the Premier League supplies eight names, and the biggest talking point is the absence of Lamine Yamal — ruled out by the award's own rulebook.
The 25 nominees in full
Italian newspaper Tuttosport launched the Golden Boy award in 2003 and has trimmed an initial list of 50 contenders down to 25 finalists, announced on Monday. The shortlist spans Europe's elite academies and first teams:
Spain: Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Marc Bernal (Barcelona), Xavi Espart (Barcelona). England: Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Estêvão (Chelsea), Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Rayan (Bournemouth), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City). Germany: Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joane Gadou (Borussia Dortmund), Konstantinos Karetsas (Borussia Dortmund). Italy: Rodrigo Mora (Roma), Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina, on loan from Real Madrid), Kerim Alajbegović (Juventus).
Rest of Europe: Jon Martín (Real Sociedad), Victor Froholdt (Porto), Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica), Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Yan Diomande (Real Madrid), Endrick (Real Madrid), Saïd El Mala (Köln), Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart).
Why Lamine Yamal is missing
The most surprising absence is the one player who needs no introduction. Lamine Yamal was crowned Golden Boy in 2024, and the award's rules state that no player can win it more than once — a rule that automatically takes him out of the 2026 race regardless of form, as LiveScore explains. With the 2025 winner Désiré Doué also out of the running, the crown is guaranteed to have a new owner.
For a player to be eligible, they must have been born on or after January 1, 2006 and belong to a squad in one of UEFA's top 25 leagues, per 90kicks. It is a strict filter — and it leaves a genuinely open field.
Premier League's golden generation
England's top flight is the best-represented league on the list with eight nominees. Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly and Chelsea duo Jorrel Hato and Estêvão lead the way, with Manchester City's record teenage signing Ayyoub Bouaddi also in the mix. Brighton's recruitment machine shows up again through Charalampos Kostoulas and Luka Vuskovic, while Bournemouth's January business looks inspired with Rayan and Junior Kroupi both nominated.
Estêvão, who made his mark in the Premier League this season, and Lewis-Skelly, fresh off a breakthrough campaign with Arsenal, are the standout English-based contenders.
The frontrunners
Cubarsí is widely considered the man to beat. The Barcelona centre-back is already a cornerstone of both club and country, and multiple reports name him the early frontrunner. But the competition is fierce: Zaïre-Emery's maturity in PSG's midfield, Yan Diomande's explosive start to life at Real Madrid, Endrick's raw goalscoring instinct, and Franco Mastantuono's promise at Fiorentina all have their advocates.
Real Madrid's commitment to youth is striking — alongside Diomande and Endrick, the club has also tied down Arda Güler on a long-term deal, building one of Europe's most exciting young cores. It is a strategy the continent's giants are all chasing, as the race for teenage talent intensifies — just ask anyone following the JJ Gabriel saga.
Whoever wins joins a roll of honour that includes Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal himself.
Beyond the Final Whistle: The 2026 Golden Boy race is officially open, and this is one of the most open fields in years. Cubarsí looks the safest bet, but with Estêvão, Zaïre-Emery and Diomande all on the list, the smart money could go anywhere. Who gets your vote — and which nominee is the most overrated? Tell us in the comments.
