Lamine Yamal is not among the final candidates for the 2026 Golden Boy award despite the Barcelona remains one of the most highly rated young players in world football.
The final list has been revealed after the field was trimmed from an initial pool of 50 players, with 25 of Europe’s top under-21 talents still in contention for the award.
Yamal’s absence was immediately highlighted by his performances in Barcelona and Spain, but his omission has nothing to do with his form or credentials.
A player cannot win the award more than once and Yamal has already claimed the honor, having been named Golden Boy in 2024.
This previous success means you are automatically ineligible to compete for the award again.
Who is competing for the 2026 Golden Boy award?
The Golden Boy award was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 and recognizes the best young footballer playing in Europe.
With Yamal unable to win a second time, several of the continent’s most promising talents are vying to succeed him among the list of award winners.
Barça is still represented by Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart, while Real Madrid has Endrick and Yan Diomande among the candidates.
Premier League The squad includes Chelsea duo Estevao and Jorrel Hato, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Brighton’s Charalampos Kostoulas and Luka Vuskovic and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi and Rayan.
Manchester City’s Ayoub Bouaddi also features, alongside Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery and Borussia Dortmund duo Joshua Gado and Konstantinos Karetsas.
Rodrigo Mora, Franco Mastantuono, Finn Jeltsch, Kerim Alajbegovic, Said El Mala, Jon Martin, Gianluca Prestianni and Victor Froholdt are also among those up for the award.
Yamal ready for the Ballon d’Or push
Instead, Lamine Yamal will be hoping to get his hands on the coveted Ballon d’Or later this month.
The 19-year-old looks set to go head-to-head with Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane for the award.
The polls show the Spaniard neck and neck with former Tottenham, but Yamal wants to become the first Barcelona player to receive the Ballon d’Or since Lionel Messi.