Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí heads the 25‑player shortlist for the 2026 European Golden Boy award, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport announced on Monday. The prize recognises the best under‑21 men’s player in European football and will be decided by a 50‑journalist jury, with the winner revealed in November.

Cubarsí’s candidacy is bolstered by his role in Spain’s 2026 World Cup triumph, where he was named the tournament’s Young Player of the Tournament. His consistent performances for Barcelona and at the World Cup make him the clear favourite according to early rankings.

The shortlist features eight Premier League players: Myles Lewis‑Skelly (Arsenal), Estêvão and Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City), Luka Vuskovic and Charalampos Kostoulas (Brighton), and Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth). That breadth of representation underscores the Premier League’s depth in elite youth talent this season.

Other leading names include Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande and Endrick, Paris Saint‑Germain’s Warren Zaire‑Emery, Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, Porto’s Victor Froholdt, Borussia Dortmund’s Joane Gadou and Konstantinos Karetsas, and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni. Five wild‑card selections—Kostoulas, Gadou, Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina), Rodrigo Mora (Roma) and Barcelona’s Xavi Espart—complete the 25.

The balance of proven performers and emerging prospects makes this one of the most competitive editions in recent years. Cubarsí’s World Cup pedigree gives him an edge, while Diomande’s breakout season at Real Madrid and Lewis‑Skelly’s rise at Arsenal provide compelling alternative narratives.