Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been awarded the 2024 Golden Boy, recognizing his exceptional rise with both Barcelona and Spain over the past year.
The 17-year-old forward, who was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, has quickly become one of the world’s most promising young talents, following his victory in the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in late October.
This latest honor adds to the 17-year-old’s growing list of accolades, as he defeated contenders such as Joao Neves, Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and Warren Zaire-Emery to claim the prestigious award.
The Golden Boy is presented annually by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport to the best under-21 footballer globally.
Notable past winners include icons like Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, and Jude Bellingham.
With this achievement, Yamal becomes the fifth Spanish player to win the Golden Boy, making Spain the most successful nation in the award’s history. He joins the ranks of Cesc Fàbregas, Isco, Pedri, and Gavi.
In another notable achievement for Barcelona, the club secured a double recognition as Vicky Lopez won the Golden Girl award, while Aitana Bonmat was named the Golden Player Woman 2024.
