Lamine Yamal favourite to win Golden Boy as Top 20 finalists revealed | OneFootball

FC Barcelona young sensation Lamine Yamal has emerged as the frontrunner for the prestigious Golden Boy award, which recognizes the best Under-21 player from the previous season.

Italian newspaper ‘Tuttosport’ officially announced the list of 25 candidates (20 finalists plus five wildcards) for the award on Thursday, with the winner set to be revealed on December 17 in Turin.

Leading into the ceremony, in the ‘Golden Boy Football Benchmark’, an index based on the performance of the candidates since last October, Yamal tops the ranking with 94.6 points.

Following him are Joao Neves (93.0), Warren Zaire-Emery (90.8), and Alejandro Garnacho (89.5).

This score will be combined with votes from 50 expert journalists, which will be decisive in determining the winner. And all signs point to the Barcelona prodigy clinching the Golden Boy title.

At just 17 years old, Yamal has established himself as a regular starter for both Barcelona and the national team. Despite Barcelona’s trophy-less 2023/24 campaign, he stood out as one of the team’s key performers, igniting hope among fans during challenging times.

However, it was his stellar performance in the UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain that truly captured the football world’s attention, as he was crucial in every match he played.

Yamal’s nomination for Golden Boy comes on the heels of a significant increase in his market value. After all, the Barcelona player’s valuation has risen to a mammoth €150 million, making him the most valuable Spanish player of all time.

The list of candidates also includes Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate, Pau Cubarsi, who has also cemented his place at the top level and won an Olympic gold medal. Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Endrick are also in contention for the award.