The long-distance race of the Golden Boy 2024 that began in January is reaching the finish line and the first to sprint continues to stand out unstoppably towards the prize after the name of the 25 finalists was announced this Thursday. It is about Lamine Yamalon the lips of everyone present at the event organized at the Casina Posta in Rome by Tuttosport, the Italian sports newspaper that awards the best U-21 in the world, a youth Ballon d’Or for players of any nationality who play for a European club . On Monday, December 16, at the Turin Gala, the 17-year-old forward of FC Barcelona and the Spanish team will receive, barring a major surprise, his first major individual trophy of the many that await him if he maintains his progress. Pau Cubarsi, The 17-year-old Barça centre-back is also on the final list, but with fewer options.
Now 50 expert journalists from newspapers across Europe will vote, including Mundo Deportivo. At the event were the sporting director and general director of Monaco, Thiago Darky Sergio Conceiçãowho coached Porto from 2017 until last June.
The 25 finalists
Lamine and Cubarsí opt for the Golden Boy
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)
Alejandro Garnacho (M. United/Argentina)
Warren Zaire-Emery(PSG/Francia)
Joao Neves (PSG/Portugal)
Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona/Spain)
Jorrel Hato (Ajax/Holland)
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United/Inglaterra)
Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern/Germany)
Rico Lewis (Manchester City/Inglaterra)
Savio (Manchester City/Brazil)
Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace/Inglaterra)
Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia/Spain)
Kenan Yildiz (Juventus/Türkiye)
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (Dortmund/England)
Leny Yoro (Manchester United/France)
Samu Omorodion (Porto/Spain)
Oscar Gloukh (Salzburg/Israel)
Désiré Doué (PSG/Francia)
Mathys Tel (Bavaria/Francia)
Arda Güler (Real Madrid/Türkiye)
Endrick (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica/Norway)
Wilson Odobert (Tottenham/France)
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco/Morocco)
Samuel Mbangula (Juventus/Bélgica)
Lamine Yamal He was already the favorite because in December 2023, at the last edition’s Gala, he won the Youngest Boy, created exceptionally by Tuttosport to recognize “the youngest player to enter the vote.” The Barça youth player was 16 years old at the time and Tuttosport, which created the prestigious award in 2003, already predicted that “it is natural to think that one day he will be the winner because he has four editions ahead of him to do so.” AND Lamin He didn’t want to wait any longer. At 17 years old he has exploded in Barça and in a Spanish team with which he marveled and won the European Championship.
That title in Germany, and his great goal against France that went around the globe, already came after the open list of 100 candidates was known in June. After successive monthly screenings, only 25 remain and Lamin He has everything to succeed the Real Madrid player in the list of winners. Jude Bellinghamwinner in 2023, and to pose in Barcelona with Pedri y Gaviawarded in 2021 and 2022, respectively. And not only that. He will thus follow in the wake of the player with whom everyone compares him in a way that is as dangerous as it is inevitable: Leo MessiGolden Boy in 2005. It will be the fourth for a Barcelona player, third for a youth player trained at La Masia, since Pedri He already arrived from UD Las Palmas directly to the first team.
Other notable finalists in previous evaluations, such as the Portuguese midfielder, also have the right to be excited about the award. João Neves (PSG), the Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), the French midfielder Walthough Zaire-Emery (PSG), the central Lenny Yoro (Manchester United) or the Turkish attacker Arda Guler (Real Madrid). Also those who have entered the end with strength as it is an open list, such as Samu Omorodion (Porto), Endrick (Real Madrid) and Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), but despite their admirable talent they are far from the merits of Lamine Yamal. It’s him and 24 others.
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