The Golden Boy 2025 finalists have officially been unveiled by Tuttosport, revealing a 25-man shortlist of Europe’s brightest under-21 stars. The award, first introduced in 2003, is powered by the Golden Boy Index which is a data-driven model by Football Benchmark that evaluates players based on performance, game time, club strength, and international impact.
Tuttosport’s post via their official X account reveals the 25 finalists for the 2025 Golden Boy award. The winner will be selected by top journalists across Europe and announced in Turin this December. Lamine Yamal made history with back-to-back Kopa Trophy wins at the 2025 Ballon d’Or, but he won’t defend this title, as no player can win twice.
Leading the pack is Désiré Doué of PSG, currently topping the Golden Boy Index despite a slight dip in form. His inclusion highlights France’s golden generation, which dominates the list with seven names, including Warren Zaire-Emery, Leny Yoro, and Eliesse Ben Seghir. England also shines, represented by Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Archie Gray, and Jobe Bellingham, who all continue to impress in the Premier League.
From Spain, Pau Cubarsí has become a symbol of Barcelona’s youth revival. Already a Champions League starter at just 18, he’s seen as a future Blaugrana icon. Meanwhile, Arda Güler, after battling injuries, remains one of Real Madrid’s brightest young hopes. He contributed 3 goals and 5 assists in the 2024–25 season and continues to impress under Xabi Alonso.
Chelsea’s Estevão Willian, nicknamed Messinho, is another name lighting up the list. The Brazilian wonderkid, who recently became the youngest player to score for Brazil after Pele, joined from Palmeiras for £56 million and already made headlines in the Club World Cup final.
As the race heads toward December, Doué, Cubarsí, Estevão, and Güler stand out as the frontrunners for Europe’s most prestigious youth football honour. A crown that has defined stars like Haaland, Mbappé, and Bellingham before them.
