The nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy award have been announced. Lamine Yamal scooped the prize last season, while Jude Bellingham and Gavi won the award in 2023 and 2022, respectively. While none of the trio are in contention for this year's award, it's almost certain that a global superstar in the making will claim the prize at this year's ceremony in December.
Despite being just 18 years of age, Yamal has not made the shortlist for the award due to the rule that no player is able to win the award twice. So who has made this year's shortlist? GiveMeSport reveals the contenders for the award.
2025 Golden Boy List
desire doue psg
Desire Doue is the runaway favourite to secure the 2024 Golden Boy award after his stunning debut season with Paris Saint-Germain. A tally of 16 goals and 16 assists last term helped the French giants to Ligue 1 and Champions League glory with the forward scoring twice in the final against Inter Milan. Doue's teammate Warren Zaire-Emery is also among the favourites for the award, alongside Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi and Real Madrid duo Dean Huijsen and Arda Guler.
The Premier League are also well represented with no fewer than nine players included among the 25 listed. Arsenal duo Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri make the list, as do Chelsea pair Jorrel Hato and Estevao.
Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray also make the cut after playing their part in Spurs' journey to Europa League glory under Ange Postecoglou, while Man United's Leny Loro and Man City's Nico O'Reilly also make the list.
Along with the 20 nominees, five Wild Cards have been selected, which include Liverpool's Giovanni Leoni and Borussia Dortmund's Jobe Bellingham.
Confirmed list of players who can win the 2025 Golden Boy award
Player Club
Pau Cubarsi FC Barcelona
Désiré Doué Paris Saint-Germain
Dean Huijsen Real Madrid
Kenan Yildiz Juventus
Myles Lewis-Skelly Arsenal
Warren Zaire-Emery Paris Saint-Germain
Arda Guler Real Madrid
Franco Mastantuono Real Madrid
Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal
Jorrel Hato Chelsea
Geovany Quenda Sporting Clube De Portugal
Estevao Chelsea
Leny Yoro Man United
Senny Mayulu Paris Saint-Germain
Nico O'Reilly Man City
Eliesse Ben Seghir Bayer Leverkusen
Victor Froholdt FC Porto
Lucas Bergvall Tottenham
Archie Gray Tottenham
Mamadou Sarr RC Strasbourg
Jobe Bellingham* Borussia Dortmund
Francesco Pio Esposito* Inter Milan
Rodrigo Mora* FC Porto
Giovanni Leoni* Liverpool
Aleksandar Stankovic* Club Brugge
* Wildcard pick
2025 Golden Boy Date
The 2025 Golden Boy winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Badia di Santi-Andrea - the new home of Genoa CFC's youth academy. The Golden Boy, co-developed by Football Benchmark and Tuttosport, ranks the world's top young footballers based on data-driven performance metrics.