Lamine Yamal ruled out of 2026 Golden Boy award despite Barcelona star’s form

Lamine Yamal has been left out of the final 25-player shortlist for the 2026 Golden Boy award because he has already won the prize, rather than because of his performances.

The Barcelona forward was named the winner in 2024 and the award’s rules prevent any player from receiving it more than once. His omission from the latest shortlist is therefore automatic, despite Yamal remaining one of the leading young talents in world football.

The final list was announced on Monday after being reduced from an initial group of 50 players. The Golden Boy award, launched by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, is presented to the best player under the age of 21 competing in European leagues and is regarded as one of the leading individual honours for emerging talent on the continent.

The 25 nominees are:

– Charalampos Kostoulas (Greece, Brighton) – Rodrigo Mora (Portugal, Roma) – Joyan Jado (France, Borussia Dortmund) – Xavi Espart (Spain, Barcelona) – Franco Mastantuono (Argentina, Fiorentina) – Finn Jeltsch (Germany, Stuttgart) – Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Juventus) – Said El Mala (Germany, Koln) – Marc Bernal (Spain, Barcelona) – Jon Martin (Spain, Real Sociedad) – Konstantinos Karetsas (Greece, Borussia Dortmund) – Endrick (Brazil, Real Madrid) – Gianluca Prestianni (Argentina, Benfica) – Estevao (Brazil, Chelsea) – Junior Kroupi (France, Bournemouth) – Lennart Karl (Germany, Bayern Munich) – Myles Lewis-Skelly (England, Arsenal) – Jorrel Hato (Netherlands, Chelsea) – Victor Froholdt (Denmark, Porto) – Ryan (Brazil, Bournemouth) – Luka Vuskovic (Croatia, Brighton) – Ayoub Bouaddi (Morocco, Manchester City) – Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast, Real Madrid) – Pau Cubarsi (Spain, Barcelona) – Warren Zaire-Emery (France, Paris Saint-Germain)

Yamal’s absence was the most notable development in the announcement, given his status as one of the most prominent young players in the global game. However, his previous success means he was ineligible to challenge for the award in 2026.

The Barcelona player remains firmly in contention to continue setting the standard among the world’s leading young footballers, but the Golden Boy rules ensure that the next winner will come from the remaining 25 nominees.