Paris Saint-Germain’s Désiré Doué has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2025 Golden Boy Award, as Tuttosport unveiled its official 25-man shortlist recognising Europe’s top under-21 footballers.
The French winger, 20, headlines a field dominated by Ligue 1 and Premier League talent. France leads with six nominees, followed by England with four.
The annual Golden Boy Award, founded in 2003, honours the best U21 player in Europe’s top leagues. Recent winners include Lamine Yamal (2024), Jude Bellingham (2023) and Gavi (2022), each of whom has since become a senior international standout.
Doué leads a French charge
After joining from Rennes in 2024, Doué recorded eight goals and ten assists last season, playing a decisive role in PSG’s first-ever Champions League title. Many have placed him among the most complete wide players of his generation, praised for his composure and tactical mind play.
France’s contingent also includes Warren Zaïre-Emery, Leny Yoro, Senny Mayulu, Mamadou Sarr, and Eliesse Ben Seghir. Should Doué win, France would draw level with England for three all-time Golden Boy victories, behind Spain’s five.
England’s youth revival
England’s nominees show the Premier League’s commitment to developing young talent. Ethan Nwaneri, 18, remains Arsenal’s youngest-ever debutant and is seen as Doué’s main rival after scoring five league goals last season.
Archie Gray has impressed at Tottenham since a £30 million move from Leeds, while Nico O’Reilly continues his rise at Manchester City. Jobe Bellingham, now at Borussia Dortmund, follows his brother Jude’s 2023 win, hoping to make history as football’s first sibling successors.
European powerhouses well represented
Spain and Turkey each contribute two names. Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí, 18, anchors one of La Liga’s best defences with a 92% pass completion rate. Real Madrid’s duo Arda Güler and Dean Huijsen bring creative depth, with Güler’s free kicks already lighting up the Bernabéu.
Elsewhere, Portugal’s Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP) and Rodrigo Mora (Porto) headline Iberia’s young stars, while Italy’s Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter Milan) and Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool) represent the next generation of Italy.
Chelsea’s new arrivals, Estêvão and Jorrel Hato, further show the Premier League’s cross-continental recruitment. Estêvão, dubbed “Messinho” in Brazil, has scored nine times for Palmeiras ahead of his move to London.
Wild cards and fan reactions
Five wild card picks — Bellingham, Esposito, Mora, Leoni, and Stanković — were added based on reader votes and expert recommendations. Their inclusion sparked lively debate on social media, with Fabrizio Romano’s post announcing the list drawing over 29,000 likes within hours.
Arsenal fans celebrated dual nominations for Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, while PSG supporters hailed Doué as a potential back-to-back French winner after Mbappé’s 2017 triumph.
Since its inception, the Golden Boy Award has crowned 22 winners, ten of whom later became Ballon d’Or finalists. Spain leads all-time with five titles, including a four-year streak through Yamal, Gavi, and Pedri.
The 2025 winner will be selected in December by 40 European journalists. Current odds place Doué at 2.5/1, with Nwaneri and Estêvão close behind.
Regardless of outcome, this year’s shortlist reaffirms the strength of European academies and the global reach of modern youth development.
