Revealed: Three Man United starlets are shortlisted for prestigious Golden Boy award - with Adam Wharton one of FOUR English players up for the gong

The shortlist for the prestigious Golden Boy award has been revealed, with English football well represented in the race to be named the best youngster in the men's game. The Golden Boy award is handed out to the best young men's player aged 21 or below currently in a top league on the continent, as voted for by selected media outlets from across Europe from a shortlist of 20. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho will likely be among the front-runners for the award Adam Wharton is one of four English players nominated for the Golden Boy award this year Jude Bellingham is the reigning Golden Boy having picked up the prestigious award for 2023 2024 Golden Boy award nominees Lamine Yamal, Joao Neves, Warren Zaire-Emery, Alejandro Garnacho, Pau Cubarsi, Savio, Rico Lewis, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Kobbie Mainoo, Jorrel Hato, Leny Yoro, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Kenan Yildiz, Cristhian Mosquera, Adam Wharton, Arda Guler, Mathys Tel, Desire Doue, Oscar Gloukh, Samu Omorodion Furthermore, the Premier League is represented by six players, with Leny Yoro, Alejandro Garnacho and Savio joining Wharton, Mainoo and Lewis on the shortlist. Golden Boy winners 2003 Rafael van der Vaart 2004 Wayne Rooney 2005 Lionel Messi 2006 Cesc Fabregas 2007 Sergio Aguero 2008 Anderson 2009 Alexandre Pato 2010 Mario Balotelli 2011 Mario Gotze 2012 Isco 2013 Paul Pogba Golden Boy winners 2014 Raheem Sterling 2015 Anthony Martial 2016 Renato Sanches 2017 Kylian Mbappe 2018 Matthijs de Ligt 2019 Joao Felix 2020 Erling Haaland 2021 Pedri 2022 Gavi 2023 Jude Bellingham Lamine Yamal had an explosive 2024 winning the Euros with Spain and emerging as young player of the tournament Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain will likely also be considered among the front-runners Yamal has enjoyed a fantastic 2024 which saw him lift the European Championship trophy with Spain, taking the tournament by storm with one goal and four assists in a stunning announcement of his lethal capabilities.