Ballon d’Or: Ayoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Maza named among 10 nominees for young player award

France Football has announced the 10 nominees for its young player of the year award, with Morocco international Ayoub Bouaddi and Algeria international Ibrahim Maza included on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Both players are among the emerging names competing for one of the event’s individual honours. Bouaddi is listed as a Manchester City player, while Maza represents Bayer Leverkusen.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is held annually to recognise the leading players and performers in world football. This year’s young player award features a field of 10 nominees from several of Europe’s major clubs.

The complete shortlist is:

– Karem Alajbegovic – Juventus – Ayoub Bouaddi – Manchester City – Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona – Yann Diomande – Real Madrid – Lennart Karl – Bayern Munich – Eli Junior Kroupi – Bournemouth – Lamine Yamal – Barcelona – Johan Manzambi – Aston Villa – Ibrahim Maza – Bayer Leverkusen – Warren Zaire-Emery – Paris Saint-Germain

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is the previous winner of the award, having claimed the honour last year.

His inclusion on this year’s list means Barcelona have two nominees, with Pau Cubarsi joining Yamal among the contenders. The shortlist also includes players from Juventus, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen and Paris Saint-Germain.

Bouaddi and Maza are the two Arab players represented among the 10 candidates. Their nominations add an international dimension to a shortlist that includes established young talents from a number of prominent European clubs.

The award will be presented as part of the Ballon d’Or event organised by French football magazine France Football. The ceremony brings together a series of prizes designed to honour the best performers in world football.

Yamal’s success last year provides the immediate context for the latest shortlist, although he remains among the nominees again as the players compete for this year’s award.