Golden Boy 2025: Ranking Football's Rising Stars by Market Value

The 2025 Golden Boy Award: A Ranking of Football's Rising Stars Spain is buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming Golden Boy Award. This prestigious award recognizes the most promising young footballer in Europe, and this year's nominees are a star-studded lineup. Sports journalist Alex Barty (@alex_barty) recently released a video ranking the top 100 nominees based on their market value, offering a unique perspective on the competition. Barty's video highlights the top 20 players, providing insights into their age, current market value, and clubs. For example, Lamine Yamal, at only 17, tops the list with a market value of €180 million, showcasing the exceptional talent emerging in the world of football. Other notable players mentioned include Cubarsi (€70M), Doue (€70M), and Zaire-Emery (€60M). "This is the best pool of youngsters there's ever been," Barty states in his video, emphasizing the high quality of talent in this year's nominations. While the video focuses on market value, it sparks discussion about the broader criteria for the Golden Boy Award and the potential of each player. Barty's analysis provides a valuable starting point for a deeper exploration of the nominees, their achievements, and their future prospects. The diversity of clubs and leagues represented also reflects the global reach of young talent in modern football.