Ayyoub Bouaddi and Yan Diomande named among Golden Boy 2026 finalists

The race to succeed Desire Doue as Golden Boy has begun, with Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi and Cote d’Ivoire forward Yan Diomande included in the 25-player shortlist for the 2026 award.

The nominees were announced on Monday evening by Italian newspaper Tuttosport. The prize is awarded each year to the best player aged under 21 who is playing in Europe.

Doue won the previous edition, but a new group of emerging talents will now compete to follow the Frenchman into the history of the award. The shortlist includes players who have already made an impact at the highest level, alongside some of the continent’s most promising young prospects.

Bouaddi leads Moroccan hopes

Bouaddi is one of the two African players in contention and represents Morocco in this year’s selection.

The midfielder, who now plays for Manchester City, has continued to meet the expectations surrounding him. His work in midfield, maturity despite his age and ability to perform at the highest level have made him one of the most notable players of his generation.

His nomination also reflects the rapid progress of a player expected to establish an important role on the European stage.

Diomande provides the second African presence on the list. The Cote d’Ivoire international plays for Real Madrid and is regarded as one of the most closely watched young attacking players in the competition.

Explosive and quick, Diomande is particularly effective in one-on-one situations. His acceleration and ability to create decisive moments by himself have helped him emerge as a serious contender in a strong field.

The 25-player shortlist brings together established young performers and players who have emerged during the season, underlining the depth of talent in European football.

For Bouaddi and Diomande, their inclusion is already significant recognition. One of them could now go on to challenge for the award and potentially succeed Doue.

Golden Boy 2026 shortlist

– Pau Cubarsi FC Barcelone, Spain – Ayyoub Bouaddi Manchester City, Morocco – Warren Zaire-Emery Paris Saint-Germain, France – Yan Diomande Real Madrid, Cote d’Ivoire – Luka Vuskovic Brighton, Croatia – Victor Froholdt FC Porto, Denmark – Myles Lewis-Skelly Arsenal, England – Rayan Bournemouth, Brazil – Jorrel Hato Chelsea, Netherlands – Lennart Karl Bayern Munich, Germany – Estevao Chelsea, Brazil – Endrick Real Madrid, Brazil – Eli Junior Kroupi Bournemouth, France – Gianluca Prestianni Benfica, Argentina – Konstantinos Karetsas Borussia Dortmund, Greece – Said El Mala Cologne, Germany – Jon Martin Real Sociedad, Spain – Marc Bernal FC Barcelone, Spain – Kerim Alajbegovic Juventus, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Finn Jeltsch Stuttgart, Germany – Charalampos Kostoulas Brighton, Greece – Joane Gadou Borussia Dortmund, France – Franco Mastantuono Fiorentina, Argentina – Rodrigo Mora AS Roma, Portugal – Xavi Espart FC Barcelone, Spain