Ayoub Bouaddi shortlisted for 2026 Golden Boy award alongside Barcelona trio

Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi, who plays for English club Manchester City, has been named among the 25 nominees for the 2026 Golden Boy award, presented by Italian newspaper Tuttosport.

Bouaddi is one of three players from Barcelona included on the shortlist, alongside Xabi Espart and Marc Bernal. Pau Cubarsi is also nominated, while the list features several of Europe’s leading young players.

Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue are absent after winning the award previously. Tuttosport’s rules do not allow former winners to be nominated again.

The Golden Boy prize is open to players aged under 21 who play in European leagues. It was first awarded in 2003, when Rafael van der Vaart became the inaugural winner.

Barcelona midfielder Gavi is the youngest player to have won the award, claiming the honour at the age of 18 years and 77 days in 2022. Doue was the most recent recipient, taking the prize in 2025.

2026 Golden Boy nominees

– Franco Mastantuono – Fiorentina – Xabi Espart – Barcelona – Joane Gadou – Borussia Dortmund – Rodrigo Mora – Roma – Charalampos Kostoulas – Brighton – Finn Jeltsch – Stuttgart – Kerim Alajbegovic – Juventus – Jon Martin – Real Sociedad – Said El Mala – Koln – Marc Bernal – Barcelona – Konstantinos Karetsas – Borussia Dortmund – Endrick – Real Madrid – Gianluca Prestianni – Benfica – Estevao – Chelsea – Junior Kroupi – Bournemouth – Lennart Karl – Bayern Munich – Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal – Jorrel Hato – Chelsea – Victor Froholdt – Porto – Ryan – Bournemouth – Luka Vuskovic – Brighton – Ayoub Bouaddi – Manchester City – Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona – Yan Diomande – Real Madrid – Warren Zaire-Emery – Paris Saint-Germain