The 25 Golden Boy 2025 finalists have been officially announced! Lamine Yamal, the great absentee from the list

The prize considered the equivalent of the “golden balloon” for players under 21, has been awarded annually since 2003 and rewards the most promising young footballer in Europe.

Lamine Yamal, the great absentee: the reason for exclusion

Although he is currently the most valuable footballer in the world, Lamine Yamal (18 years old) is not on the list of this year's finalists.

The explanation is a simple one: the Golden Boy Regulation prohibits a player from winning the trophy twice. Thus, Yamal, the 2024 laureate, who then set a historical score record in the Football Benchmark index, is automatically excluded from the polling process, even if it would remain statistically eligible.

This year's favorite is freshly winner of the Champions League

Among the great favorite in the 2025 edition are the French Desire two (20 years, Paris Saint-Germain), who, continues to be seen as the main suitor in “gold in Turin”.

For their part, Pau Cubarsi (18 years old, FC Barcelona), Dean Huijsen and Arda Guler (both 20 years old, Real Madrid) are considered strong candidates.

Full list of 25 Golden Boy 2025 finalists

• Pu Cubarsí (FC Barcelona)

• Desire two (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)

• Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)

• Kenan Yildiz (Juventus)

• Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

• Geovany Quanda (Sporting CP)

• Jorell Hato (Ajax Amsterdam)

• Archie Gray (Tottenham)

• Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen)

• Leny Yoro (Manchester United)

• Arda Guler (Real Madrid)

• Victor Froholdt (Porto)

• Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham)

• Mamadou Sarr (RC Strasbourg)

• Senny Mayulu (Paris Saint-Germain)

• Estevao (Chelsea)

• Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid)

• Nico O'Reilly (Manchester City)

• Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, Wild Card)

• Francesco PIO ESPOSITO (Inter, Wild Card)

• Aleksandar Stankovic (Club Brugge, Wild Card)

• Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool, Wild Card)

• Rodrigo Mora (Porto, Wild Card)

Lamine Yamal, Laureate of 2024

Last year, the trophy was won by Lamine Yamal, the far right of Barcelona, ​​who at the age of 17 became the youngest winner in the history of the prize.

Currently, the Spaniard is listed at 200 million euros, being considered the most valuable football player on the planet.