Bellingham, Yamal, Musiala headline Golden Boy 2023 top 25 shortlist

Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham leads the race to become the 2023 Golden Boy after being named in the final 25 shortlist for the award. 

Bellingham was joined in the top 20 by Barcelona youngsters Lamine Yamal and Alejandro Balde, as well as Bayern Munich sensations Jamal Musiala and Mathys Tel. 

The list also featured some well-known names, including Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, PSV’s Johan Bakayoko, Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaire-Emery, and Real Madrid’s summer signing from Fenerbahce, Arda Guler. 

The list of prodigious youngsters in Europe also includes Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund, Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill. 

There were also, expectedly, less heralded gems like Antwerp’s Arthur Vermeen, RB Salzburg’s Lucas Gourna-Douath, and Genk’s Bilal El Khannouss. 

The final award and the announcement of placements will be announced in November, with the winner taking over from Barcelona’s Gavi, who was given the award in 2022. 

The Blaugrana will hope that one of its nominees this year, Balde and Yamal, will continue the recent tradition of scooping the award, but they will face stiff competition from club rival Bellingham. 

The English midfielder is the favourite for the award after a stunning start to life at Real Madrid following a summer move from Borussia Dortmund.