Based on the Golden Boy Football Benchmark, a ranking of U21 players from 7/10/2024 to 13/7/2025, Lamine Yamal leads with 97.9 points. Doue follows closely with 95.3 points, and Cubarsi is third with 95 points.

Doue wins the 2024-2025 Champions League after PSG's 5-0 victory over Inter in the final. Photo: Reuters

Doue wins the 2024-2025 Champions League after PSG's 5-0 victory over Inter in the final. Photo: Reuters

The Golden Boy Football Benchmark serves as the foundation for Tuttosport (Italy) to create the shortlist for the Golden Boy award. Previous winners are ineligible for subsequent awards. With 2024 winner Yamal unable to participate, Doue and Cubarsi emerge as the frontrunners this year.

Doue played a pivotal role for PSG last season. The 20-year-old forward appeared in 61 matches, scoring 16 goals, including two in the 5-0 Champions League final victory against Inter. His contributions propelled PSG to a quadruple, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup, and French Super Cup.

Unlike Doue, Cubarsi has made his mark on the defensive end. At 18, the Spanish center-back plays like a seasoned star. He appeared in 56 matches during the 2024-2025 season, helping Barcelona secure La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.

Cubarsi (center) celebrates a goal during the first leg of the 2024-2025 Copa del Rey semi-final, Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid. Photo: Reuters

Cubarsi (center) celebrates a goal during the first leg of the 2024-2025 Copa del Rey semi-final, Barcelona 4-4 Atletico Madrid. Photo: Reuters

Other young players trail Doue and Cubarsi significantly in points. Myles Lewis-Skelly ranks fourth with 87.9 points, while Warren Zaire-Emery is fifth with 87.4. Dean Huijsen, the center-back who recently joined Real Madrid, is sixth with 85.5 points.

The Golden Boy award, established in 2003, involves voting by several newspapers: Bild (Germany), Blick (Switzerland), A Bola (Portugal), L'Equipe (France), France Football (France), Marca (Spain), Mundo Deportivo (Spain), Ta Nea (Greece), Sport Express (Russia), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), and Times (UK). Based on the shortlist, each judge nominates five players, awarding 10 points to the most impressive, 7 for second place, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, and 1 for fifth.

Past winners include: Van Der Vaart, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Aguero, Anderson, Alexandre Pato, Mario Balotelli, Mario Gotze, Isco, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, Anthony Martial, Renato Sanches, Kylian Mbappe, De Ligt, Joao Felix, Erling Haaland, Pedri, Gavi, Jude Bellingham, and Yamal.

Top 10 U21 players in the Golden Boy Football Benchmark from 7/10/2024 to 13/7/2025:

1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), 97.9 points

2. Desire Doue (PSG), 95.3

3. Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), 95

4. Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), 87.9

5. Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), 87.4

6. Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid), 85.5

7. Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), 84.2

8. Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), 82.9

9. Geovany Quenda (Sporting), 82.1

10. Arda Guler (Real Madrid), 80.2

Thanh Quy (according to GBFB)