2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Position: Winger | Age: 17
Lamine Yamal’s meteoric rise has taken the football world by storm. At just 17, the Barcelona wonderkid has played a pivotal role in the club’s domestic treble-winning 2024/25 season, contributing 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions. His creativity, fearless dribbling, and maturity far beyond his years have made him one of the most electrifying young players on the planet.
Whether deployed wide or cutting inside to dictate play, Yamal has consistently delivered in big moments, cementing himself as a key figure under Hansi Flick. His performances have drawn comparisons to legendary La Masia graduates, and Barcelona reportedly plan to reward his breakout season by handing him the iconic No. 10 shirt, with Ansu Fati expected to depart this summer.
Yamal’s blend of raw talent and end product is almost unprecedented for someone his age. If he continues at this trajectory, the Golden Boy award could easily be within reach—and perhaps just the beginning of a glittering career at the pinnacle of the sport.
2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
Position: Winger | Age: 17
Lamine Yamal has gone from rising talent to global sensation in the 2024/25 season. At just 17, he’s already become the centerpiece of Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign—delivering 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions while playing with the maturity and flair of a seasoned star.
As a result of his remarkable impact, Yamal is set to inherit the legendary No. 10 shirt this July, following in the footsteps of icons like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. Ansu Fati’s expected departure leaves the number vacant, and the club views Yamal as the natural heir to that symbolic legacy.
The decision has sparked widespread debate among fans, but much of the Barcelona faithful are united in their belief that Yamal can handle the pressure. As one fan on Reddit put it:
“Yamal is used to pressure that has already turned him into diamond.”
Others see it as a commercial and symbolic masterstroke—both a branding goldmine and a declaration of trust in a player many already view as the best young talent in the world.
His fearless performances in the Champions League—especially in pressure-filled matches against Inter—have already earned him cult status. If he maintains this level of output, Yamal may not just be a contender for the Golden Boy—he could redefine the standards for what it means to be a teenage footballing prodigy.
