All Golden Boy Award Winners: Complete Year-by-Year List

Since its introduction in 2003, the Golden Boy award has become one of the most prestigious individual honours for young footballers. Past recipients include Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and other players who went on to achieve great success. However, not every winner has fulfilled their potential or established themselves at the highest level. This article brings together the complete list of Golden Boy winners by year, the history of the award and its key records.

What Is the Golden Boy Award in Football?

Golden Boy is an annual individual award presented to the best young footballer playing for a European club. It was established by the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport in 2003. Over time, it has become one of the most recognisable awards for players at the beginning of their professional careers.

The main eligibility requirement is to be under 21 years of age. The player must also compete in the top division of a European league. The award recognises performances over the course of the year, taking into account individual displays, consistency, contributions to team results and achievements at major tournaments.

The winner is selected by sports journalists from different European countries. Each member of the jury chooses the candidates they consider most deserving, and the votes are then added together.

The Golden Boy award has one important rule: a player can win it only once. Even if a footballer still meets the age requirements, a previous winner can no longer compete for the main prize.

All Golden Boy Winners from 2003 to 2025

Golden Boy Records and Interesting Facts

Since the award was established, several notable records have emerged. Some concern the ages of the winners, while others relate to their clubs, nationalities and subsequent careers.

• The youngest Golden Boy winner is Lamine Yamal. He won the award in 2024 at the age of 17.
• The first winner was Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutch midfielder received the award in 2003.
• Spain has the most wins by nationality. Spanish footballers have won Golden Boy five times.
• Barcelona is the most successful club by number of winners. Four of its players have received the award.
• Players from the same country have won in consecutive years on two occasions. Brazilians Anderson and Pato were honoured in 2008 and 2009, while Spaniards Pedri and Gavi won in 2021 and 2022.
• Golden Boy cannot be won twice. After their first victory, players are no longer eligible for the main award.

Who Will Win Golden Boy in 2026?

At the time this article was prepared, the 2026 Golden Boy winner had not yet been announced. In October, the organisers unveiled a shortlist of 25 finalists competing for the award.

The players in the final stage of the voting include Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí, Chelsea’s Estêvão, Endrick, Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl and other young footballers playing for European clubs.

An international jury of sports journalists will make the final decision. The winner is expected to be announced in the coming days, while the award ceremony will traditionally take place in Turin.

Read the latest football predictions in the dedicated section of our website.