Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo and Real Madrid forward Endrick all headline the final nominee list for the 2024 Golden Boy Award, Afrosport reports.
Yamal enjoyed a dream-like breakout season for Barcelona, finishing with seven goals and nine assists in his first full season with the Catalan club. The 17-year-old was also integral to Spain’s triumph in the 2024 European Championship, where he finished with one goal and four assists in their title run.
Mainoo, on the other hand, emerged as the hidden gem in United’s midfield despite having to endure an ankle injury that derailed his start to the season. Alongside many mouth-watering performances, the young midfielder led the Red Devils to FA Cup triumph, including scoring in the final, as well as earning a place on England’s team to Euro 2024.
For Endrick, who recently completed his move to Madrid, the teenager has two goals and an assist in nine matches in all competitions, including becoming the youngest ever UEFA Champions League goal scorer in club history.
The Golden Boy award, which is given to the best under-21 player from a European club, also has on its 2024 shortlist, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, and FC Porto’s Nigerian-descent forward Samu Omoriodon.
Here we are!!
The 25 finalists for the Golden Boy Absolute Best!
Who will be the next European Golden Воу?#GoldenBoyAwards#GBFBIndex#FootballBenchmark#Tuttosport pic.twitter.com/angrfih1sw— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) October 17, 2024
The list, which was released on Thursday, by its Italian organisers, Tuttosport, also has Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz, and the Paris Saint-Germain trio of Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves, and Désiré Doué on the list.
The Golden Boy award has had some prestigious winners like Mario Balotelli, Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
Jude Bellingham scooped the award last year after his blistering performances for Borussia Dortmund, England and Real Madrid.
The winner of this year’s edition of the award will be announced on December 4.
2024 Golden Boy Award Finalists – Full List
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
Savinho (Manchester City)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Jorrel Hato (Ajax)
Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
Kenan Yıldız (Juventus)
Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia)
Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)
Oscar Gloukh (RB Salzburg)
Samuel Omorodion (FC Porto)
