CORNERFLICK
Why Yamal was left out
Lamine Yamal did not appear among the Golden Boy finalists because the award can only go to a player once. That rule kept the Barcelona forward out of the running again this year.
Yamal won the prize in 2024 at the age of 17. He has since finished third in the Ballon d'Or and won the Kopa Trophy, but neither achievement changes his Golden Boy eligibility.
Cubarsí takes the award
The award instead went to Pau Cubarsí, Yamal's Barcelona team-mate, after he was named the best Under-21 player. Cubarsí saw off rivals including Estêvão, Diomande and Zaire-Emery.
The same rule means Cubarsí will also be ineligible in future editions after winning this year. Golden Boy was established by Tuttosport in 2003 and is designed to give other young players a chance to win it.