Real Madrid dominates the Golden Boy shortlist, with Tuttosport confirming that three of its players are among the 25 finalists. It’s the second round of cuts following an initial list of 50 of the best Under-21 players in the world.
Madrid’s representatives are Dean Huijsen, Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono, with all three considered strong contenders for the final award. Güler has the most experience at the top level, while the impact of Spanish defender Huijsen and Argentine left-footer Mastantuono has made them impossible to ignore.
Barcelona also has a presence through Pau Cubarsí, who stands as LaLiga’s other representative. Missing, however, is Lamine Yamal. Despite being eligible by age, the 2023 winner is excluded by the competition’s rules since he’s also nominated for Tuttosport’s senior award. Yamal finished second in that category and even challenged for the Ballon d’Or.
The other finalists
Among the rest, Paris Saint-Germain stands out with three names: Désiré Doué, considered one of the top favourites, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Senny Mayulu. Other finalists include Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Estêvão (Chelsea), Geovany Quenda (Sporting), Leny Yoro (Manchester United), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen), Victor Froholdt (Porto), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham), Archie Gray (Tottenham), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg), Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter Milan), Rodrigo Mora (Porto), Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool) and Aleksandar Stanković (Club Brugge).
The final decision now rests with the Golden Boy’s international jury, made up of 50 journalists from across Europe, who will choose the winner. The announcement will take place in November during a press conference, ahead of the awards ceremony in Turin.
Final shortlist
PAU CUBARSÍ - Barcelona
DÉSIRÉ DOUÉ - Paris Saint-Germain
DEAN HUIJSEN - Real Madrid
KENAN YILDIZ - Juventus
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY - Arsenal
WARREN ZAÏRE-EMERY - Paris Saint-Germain
ARDA GÜLER - Real Madrid
FRANCO MASTANTUONO - Real Madrid
ETHAN NWANERI - Arsenal
JORREL HATO - Chelsea
GEOVANY QUENDA - Sporting Lisbon
ESTÊVÃO - Chelsea
LENY YORO - Manchester United
SENNY MAYULU - Paris Saint-Germain
NICO O’REILLY - Manchester City
ELIESSE BEN SEGHIR - Bayer Leverkusen
VICTOR FROHOLDT - Porto
LUCAS BERGVALL - Tottenham Hotspur
ARCHIE GRAY - Tottenham Hotspur
MAMADOU SARR - RC Strasbourg
JOBE BELLINGHAM - Borussia Dortmund
FRANCESCO PIO ESPOSITO - Inter
RODRIGO MORA - FC Porto
GIOVANNI LEONI - Liverpool
ALEKSANDAR STANKOVIĆ - Club Brugge