The Reason Why Lamine Yamal Cannot Win the Golden Boy Again
Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal won’t feature among the Golden Boy 2025 candidates — but not because of his performance. It’s all about the rules.
A Rule That Changes Everything
The shortlist for the Golden Boy 2025, published by Italian outlet Tuttosport, came with a surprise: Lamine Yamal is not on it. The FC Barcelona wonderkid, who dominated last year’s edition, won’t be able to defend his title because of a rule that prevents any player from winning the award more than once.
Created in 2003 by journalist Massimo Franchi, the Golden Boy honors the best player in the world under the age of 21. This year’s finalists include Pau Cubarsí, Arda Güler, Dean Huijsen, and Desiré Doué, with the French midfielder emerging as the favorite to take home the Turin-based prize.
At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is no longer simply the future — he’s already the present. He may not lift the Golden Boy again, but his path now leads toward even bigger prizes — the kind reserved for football’s true greats.
