Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on August 24, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Camp Nou on August 24, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Barcelona winger and EURO 2024 champion Lamine Yamal has been officially announced as the winner of the 2024 Golden Boy award.
The prize celebrates the best players in Europe aged 21 and under, and is given out annually by Turin-based outlet Tuttosport.
Yamal crowned Golden Boy for 2024
Yamal, who was the odds-on favourite to claim the award, has been confirmed as the winner of the main Golden Boy prize for 2024.
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY - JUNE 20: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy looks dejected after scoring an own goal and the first goal for Spain as Lamine Yamal, Alvaro Morata and Pedri of Spain celebrate during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Spain and Italy at Arena AufSchalke on June 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 20: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy looks dejected after scoring an own goal and the first goal for Spain as Lamine Yamal, Alvaro Morata and Pedri of Spain celebrate during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Spain and Italy at Arena AufSchalke on June 20, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
His triumph comes after a spectacular year for club and country, which culminated in a EURO 2024 victory with Spain over the summer. The teenage sensation celebrated his 17th birthday midway through the tournament.
Yamal came out on top of a 25-player shortlist that also included Manchester United pair Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, Juventus duo Kenan Yildiz and Samuel Mbangula, plus Real Madrid’s Endrick and Arda Güler.
Yamal becomes the third different Barcelona player to win the award over the last four seasons following the successes of Pedri and Gavi in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham was the most recent winner before Wednesday afternoon.
Golden Boy Absolute Best is LAMINE YAMAL@FCBarcelona star is the best U21 player in all Europe! #Goldenboy #Goldenboy2024 #FootballBenchmark #Tuttosport #football pic.twitter.com/34MSsPFDWY
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) November 27, 2024
Every previous Golden Boy winner
2024 – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
2023 – Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
2022 – Gavi (Barcelona)
2021 – Pedri (Barcelona)
2020 – Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
2019 – Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
2018 – Matthijs De Ligt (Ajax)
2017 – Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
2016 – Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)
2015 – Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
2014 – Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
2013 – Paul Pogba (Juventus)
2012 – Isco (Malaga)
2011 – Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund)
2010 – Mario Balotelli (Manchester City)
2009 – Alxandre Pato (Milan)
2008 – Anderson (Manchester United)
2007 – Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)
2006 – Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
2005 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
2004 – Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
2003 – Rafael Van Der Vaart (Ajax)
Full list of 2024 nominees
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Kenan Yildiz (Juventus)
Samuel Mbangula (Juventus)
Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
Endrick (Real Madrid)
Joao Neves (PSG)
Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG)
Desire Doue (PSG)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Savio (Manchester City)
Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich)
Mathijs Tel (Bayern Munich)
Jorrel Hato (Ajax)
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia)
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Oscar Gloukh (RB Salzburg)
Samu Omorodion (Porto)
Wilson Odobert (Tottenham)
Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica)
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco)