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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
James Cormack

Ranking All 25 Nominees for the 2026 Golden Boy Award

Warren ZaïreEmery Arsenal Eli Junior Kroupi Lennart Karl Luka Vušković Myles LewisSkelly Yan Diomande Real Madrid Gianluca Prestianni Xavi Espart

Twenty-five of European soccer’s brightest starlets are up for the 2026 Golden Boy award, with Tuttosport releasing its final shortlist for the prize, handed out in November.

Award season is upon us, folks, and the best U-21 player in the world will be crowned by the Italian newspaper for the 24th time. Rafael van der Vaart was the first victor in 2003, and the esteemed honor has since been bestowed upon the likes of Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.

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