Warren Zaïre-Emery remains the sole Paris Saint-Germain player in contention for the 2026 Golden Boy award after Italian sports daily Tuttosport unveiled its shortlist of 25 finalists this week, according to CulturePSG. The annual prize recognizes the standout under-21 player in European football.
The Shrinking Paris Contingent on the European Shortlist
Back in August, Paris Saint-Germain boasted three teenagers within the European Golden Boy Top 100. Alongside Warren Zaïre-Emery, the club featured academy product Senny Mayulu and forward Ibrahim Mbaye. Mbaye has since transferred to Aston Villa, while Mayulu fell away as the field was narrowed down to 20 players selected via data metrics from Tuttosport and Transfermarkt, supplemented by five wildcard entries.
CulturePSG reported that the latest cut leaves Zaïre-Emery as the lone active representative of the French champions. The midfielder aims to succeed club teammate Désiré Doué, who claimed the prestigious trophy in 2025. Established in 2003, the accolade is frequently described as a youth equivalent to the Ballon d’Or.
Familiar Faces and Wildcard Additions Among the 25 Finalists
Zaïre-Emery stands among the recognized frontrunners for the 2026 honor. Competitors at the top of the market include Barcelona central defender Pau Cubarsí, who won the World Cup with Spain last summer, and midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who transferred to Manchester City this past summer in a deal valued near €100 million.
Because the Golden Boy award can only be won once in a player’s career, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal—the 2024 recipient—is ineligible for the 2026 prize. However, the final 25-man list does include French forward Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth. It also features former Paris Saint-Germain academy center-back Joane Gadou, who secured one of the five wildcard selections granted by Tuttosport. Gadou joined Borussia Dortmund over the summer after Paris Saint-Germain sold him to Red Bull Salzburg in 2024 for €10 million.
The Complete 2026 Golden Boy Finalists
The 25 players remaining in contention for the 2026 trophy represent clubs across Europe:
- Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona)
- Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City)
- Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Yan Diomandé (Real Madrid)
- Endrick (Real Madrid)
- Luka Vuskovic (Brighton)
- Victor Froholdt (Porto)
- Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
- Rayan (Bournemouth)
- Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)
- Jorrel Hato (Chelsea)
- Estêvão (Chelsea)
- Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
- Konstantinos Karetsas (Borussia Dortmund)
- Saïd El Mala (Cologne)
- Jon Martin (Real Sociedad)
- Marc Bernal (FC Barcelona)
- Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus)
- Finn Jeltsch (Stuttgart)
- Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)
- Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton)
- Joane Gadou (Borussia Dortmund)
- Rodrigo Mora (AS Roma)
- Xavi Espart (FC Barcelona)
- Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina)
International Jury to Decide the November Winner
The winner of the 2026 Golden Boy award will be determined by an international panel consisting of 50 European sports journalists. CulturePSG noted that the ultimate laureate will be revealed in November ahead of an official award ceremony scheduled to take place in Turin this December, with the exact date yet to be finalized.
Related reading
