Why Lamine Yamal was omitted from Golden Boy shortlist with Leny Yoro, Desire Doue and Myles Lewis-Skelly receiving nominations
Published 16/10/2025 at 11:30 GMT+1
The nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy award have been released by Italian media publication Tuttosport and the Premier League dominates the shortlist. The award recognises the best footballer in the world under the age of 21 in European football. However, Barcelona star and Ballon d'Or runner-up Lamine Yamal has not been included on the list due to the rules of the award.
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The nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy award have been released by Italian media publication Tuttosport.
The shortlist features a total of 25 players and recognises the best footballer in the world under the age of 21 in European football.
The Italian newspaper created the award in 2003 and the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Wayne Rooney and Kylian Mbappe have all scooped up the prize.
Premier League talent dominates the shortlist this year with nine players nominated, including Manchester United defender Leny Yoro as well as Arsenal youngsters Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
However, Barcelona superstar and Ballon d'Or runner-up Lamine Yamal was left off the shortlist despite starring for the Catalan club last season and helping them secure a domestic treble.
So why would the Spain international not receive a nomination?
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Yamal is the current holder of the Golden Boy award after picking up the prize last year having played a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph.
The teenager was playing in his first major tournament and was the standout performer in Germany, scoring a memorable equaliser in Spain's semi-final victory over France.
Yamal followed up that with a fine assist for Nico Williams to score the opening goal in the final against England as Spain won the tournament for the first time since 2012.
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With the Barcelona star scooping up the 2024 prize, he is unable to win the award the following year because there is a rule which prevents winners from retaining the title.
Yamal's omission has opened the door for the likes of Desire Doue to pick up this year's award.
The 20-year-old was outstanding for Paris Saint-Germain last season, and he finished his stunning campaign with two goals in the UEFA Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Doue contributed with five goals and four assists in the Champions League last season and his performances steered PSG to the title for the first time in the club's history as they sealed a historic treble.
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The France international is likely to be the favourite for this year's award, while his club and international team-mate Warren Zaire-Emery will also be in contention.
With Yamal not on the shortlist, Pau Cubarsi is the only player from Barcelona to be nominated for the award and is looking to become the first centre-back since Matthijs de Ligt in 2018 to claim the prize.
Barcelona players have dominated the award in recent years, with midfielders Gavi and Pedri winning the prize in 2021 and 2022 respectively, before Yamal became the latest to claim it last year.
Jobe Bellingham will also be hopeful of following in the footsteps of his older brother Jude after the Tuttosport staff selected the midfielder as a wildcard nomination.
Bellingham enjoyed a fine 2024/25 campaign and played an important role in guiding Sunderland back to the Premier League before sealing a move to Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window.
2025 Golden Boy list of nominees:
- Pau Cubarsi (FC Barcelona)
- Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Kenan Yildiz (Juventus)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
- Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Senny Mayulu (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Arda Guler (Real Madrid)
- Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)
- Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
- Estevao (Chelsea)
- Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP)
- Victor Froholdt (FC Porto)
- Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
- Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
- Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Archie Gray (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Mamadou Sarr (RC Strasbourg)
- Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)
Golden Boy 2025 Wildcards
- Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
- Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter)
- Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool)
- Aleksandar Stankovic (Club Bruges)
- Rodrigo Mora (FC Porto)
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