Lamine Yamal leads shortlist for world’s best young footballer
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal heads a nine-player shortlist of under-21 talents announced on September 8, 2026.
As the calendar year moves into its final phase, the major football awards season is gathering momentum. On September 8, 2026, the shortlist for the world's best young footballer was published, and it features the teenagers who left the strongest mark over the past season.
List led by Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal
Leading the group is Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who tops a list composed exclusively of players under 21. The nominees represent a broad cross-section of Europe's top clubs.
The full set of candidates includes Ajub Buardi, who joined Manchester City this summer; Pau Cubarsi, also from Barcelona; and Jan Diomande of Real Madrid. Bayern Munich is represented by Lenart Karl, while Bournemouth's Eli Junior Krupi also makes the cut.
From the Premier League comes Johan Mazambi of Aston Villa. Ibrahim Maza appears as Bayer Leverkusen's entry, and Paris Saint-Germain are represented by Voren Zair Emeri. Rounding out the list is Kerim Alajbegoviќ, the Bosnian international who is part of Juventus and has drawn particular attention in the Balkans.
The shortlist highlights emerging players across Spain, England, Germany, France and Italy, underlining how top clubs continue to develop the next generation of stars as year-end awards approach.
Photo: press material from the event
