- Lamine Yamal will likely be among the front runners after an explosive 2024
- Three English players have previously won: Sterling, Bellingham and Rooney
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The shortlist for the prestigious Golden Boy award has been revealed, with English football well represented in the race to be named the best youngster in the men’s game.
The Golden Boy award is handed out to the best young men’s player aged 21 or below currently in a top league on the continent, as voted for by selected media outlets from across Europe from a shortlist of 20.
It is an award that has been handed out to the likes of Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe over its 20-year history, with England superstar Jude Bellingham the current holder of the title.
In total, English players have won the award on three occasions – Raheem Sterling the other Three Lions star to have done so back in 2014 – but judging by the most recent shortlist, 2024 could see that number increase.
This year, Adam Wharton – who had a breakout year at Crystal Palace – is joined by Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Borussia Dortmund) and Rico Lewis (Manchester City).
Kobbie Mainoo (left) and Alejandro Garnacho (right) will likely be among the front-runners for the award
Adam Wharton is one of four English players nominated for the Golden Boy award this year
Jude Bellingham is the reigning Golden Boy having picked up the prestigious award for 2023
Furthermore, the Premier League is represented by six players, with Leny Yoro, Alejandro Garnacho (both Manchester United) and Savio (Manchester City) joining Wharton, Mainoo and Lewis on the shortlist.
Barcelona are traditionally a byword for wonderkid production, and they are similarly represented by Pau Cubarsi and unsurprisingly the Euro 2024 young player of the tournament Lamine Yamal, who will surely be among the front-runners.
Fellow giants in the youth academy game Ajax have Jorrel Hato up for the gong, while Paris Saint-Germain trio Warren Zaire-Emery, Joao Neves and Desire Doue make the shortlist.
Bayern Munich are represented by Aleksandar Pavlovic and Mathys Tel, with Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Valencia’s Cristhian Mosquera also highlighting the strength in youth production across the Spanish top-flight.
Rounding out the list are Porto striker Samu Omorodion, Kenan Yildiz of Juventus, and RB Salzburg starlet Oscar Gloukh.
It is a dazzling array of talent and it is testimony to the increase in emphasis over recent years that there will be numerous names whose omissions fans will be querying right up until the award ceremony later this year.
Lamine Yamal had an explosive 2024 winning the Euros with Spain and emerging as young player of the tournament
Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain will likely also be considered among the front-runners
Yamal has enjoyed a fantastic 2024 which saw him lift the European Championship trophy with Spain, taking the tournament by storm with one goal and four assists in a stunning announcement of his lethal capabilities.
His biggest rival to taking home the prize will likely be either of Mainoo or Garnacho, while Zaire-Emery could be another to keep an eye, having played beyond his years in the French capital.