Lamine Yamal is not among the final candidates for the 2026 Golden Boy award despite the Barcelona star remaining one of the most highly-rated young players in world football.
The final shortlist has been revealed after the field was cut down from an initial group of 50 players, with 25 of Europe’s leading Under-21 talents remaining in contention for the prize.
Yamal’s absence immediately stood out given his performances for Barcelona and Spain, but his omission has nothing to do with his form or credentials.
A player cannot win the award more than once and Yamal has already claimed the honour, having been named Golden Boy in 2024.
That previous success means he is automatically ineligible to compete for the award again.
Who is competing for the 2026 Golden Boy award?
The Golden Boy prize was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 and recognises the leading young footballer playing in Europe.
With Yamal unable to win for a second time, several of the continent’s most promising talents are competing to succeed him among the award’s list of winners.
Barcelona are still represented by Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart, while Real Madrid have Endrick and Yan Diomande among the contenders.
Premier League representation includes Chelsea duo Estevao and Jorrel Hato, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Brighton pair Charalampos Kostoulas and Luka Vuskovic and Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi and Rayan.
Manchester City’s Ayoub Bouaddi also features, alongside Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery and Borussia Dortmund duo Joshua Gado and Konstantinos Karetsas.
Rodrigo Mora, Franco Mastantuono, Finn Jeltsch, Kerim Alajbegovic, Said El Mala, Jon Martin, Gianluca Prestianni and Victor Froholdt are also among those competing for the award.
Yamal primed for Ballon d’Or push
Instead, Lamine Yamal will be hoping to get his hands on the coveted Ballon d’Or later this month.
The 19-year-old appears to be facing up against Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane for the award.
Polls show the Spaniard neck-and-neck with the former Tottenham man, but Yamal will be keen to become the first Barcelona player to receive the Ballon d’Or since Lionel Messi.
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