A chorus of excitement and speculation spread across football fandom: Could Lamine Yamal defend his title? In this article, StefaKick will accompany you to explore the rules, history, and current landscape to answer the burning question: can Yamal win Golden Boy again — and why, in practice, the answer is already set.
What Is the Golden Boy Award — And Its Rules
To understand Yamal’s situation, we must first dive into the rules and philosophy behind the Golden Boy award.
The Golden Boy is an annual prize awarded by Tuttosport to the most impressive male footballer under the age of 21 playing in Europe. The voting is done by a panel of journalists.
Key eligibility rules include:
- The player must be under the age of 21 during the calendar year.
- He must be playing for a European club in a first-division league.
- Crucially: a player can only win the Golden Boy once. After a player has been awarded it, they become ineligible for future editions.
This last clause is the decisive factor in answering our question. Once a player has lifted the Golden Boy, the convention is that they cannot win it again — effectively, there is no “back-to-back” or multiple-time champion.
Notably, the rules are quite explicit: even if a winner is still within the age and performance brackets in later years, their award tenure disqualifies them.
Why Yamal Can’t Legally Win It Again
Given what we know now, Yamal is ineligible to win the Golden Boy award again. Here’s why:
- He has already won it (in 2024). That is the trigger for the disqualification for subsequent years.
- The Golden Boy rules state that previous winners are barred. This is not just customary but is part of the award’s regulation.
- Even though he still qualifies on age and continues to deliver elite-level performances, the rule acts as a hard barrier.
Multiple reports confirm that although Yamal continues to top rankings and indices for the award, his candidacy is merely symbolic — he cannot compete.
In short: the answer is a definitive “no,” legally and institutionally.
Historical Precedents: Has Any Winner Gotten It Twice?
To reinforce our conclusion, let’s examine history.
- Lionel Messi won Golden Boy in 2005 — and never again, despite being eligible in years after.
- Kylian Mbappé, winner in 2017, was still within the age limit afterward but was never re-awarded.
- Matthijs de Ligt likewise won in 2018, but the next year he was excluded from re-winning even though he still met technical requirements.
- The Golden Boy organizers have always emphasized that the award is a one-time springboard, not a recurring accolade.
Thus the tradition and practice are clear: Golden Boy is designed to reward a breakthrough season and then move on — no dynasty allowed.
What Happens to Yamal’s Ranking and Fan Hope
If Yamal cannot win again, how do we interpret his continued high rankings and speculation?
Symbolic frontrunner
In many Golden Boy projections, Yamal still appears at or near the top of the list. Analysts use indices (often through Football Benchmark or other metrics) to score potential candidates. The fact that Yamal remains high is a reflection of his extraordinary performances — but with no bearing on the actual award outcome.
A narrative anchor
His presence in projections keeps audiences engaged; it sets a benchmark. Discussions often turn to who can succeed Yamal. It fuels debates about rising stars like Pau Cubarsí or Désiré Doué.
Motivation and prestige
Even though he can’t win again, Yamal still competes in perception. Being acknowledged in rankings, continuing to drive narratives — that is prestige in itself. He can push new standards, grow his legacy, and set new records in goals, assists, or other awards.
Who Are the Likely Next Golden Boy Candidates
With Yamal removed, the “race to replace Yamal” becomes the real show. Who are the young stars emerging as top contenders?
Based on current predictions and performances, names to watch include:
- Désiré Doué (PSG) — often cited as the new frontrunner in 2025.
- Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona) — strong performances as a defender with high minutes.
- Myles Lewis-Skelly — showing up in several rankings.
- Dean Huijsen — given backing by his father in media discussions.
These names draw most of the press and statistical weight in this new cycle, filling the space Yamal vacated.
Could Rules Ever Change? Hypothetical Scenarios
While the current rules are clear, football history has taught us that regulations evolve. Could Golden Boy change to allow repeat winners? In theory, yes — but in practice, it is extremely unlikely:
- The premise of the award is to highlight new emerging talent. Allowing repeat winners would undermine that.
- Changing such a foundational rule would undermine decades of consistency and be controversial.
- The identity and prestige of Golden Boy derive from its one-time nature — repetition would dilute its narrative impact.
Given that, until there is an announced rule overhaul by Tuttosport, Yamal remains locked out.
Conclusion
Can Yamal win Golden Boy again? No — by design, structure, and tradition, he is permanently ineligible.
The rules allow only one lifetime win. Yamal’s stunning 2024 triumph ensures he will never be able to lift the trophy a second time. That uniqueness becomes part of his legend. Meanwhile, he remains a symbolic benchmark, a statistic to top, and a narrative spark that sets the bar for new talents.
If you want to explore profiles of the new Golden Boy favorites, upcoming under-21 stars, or a forecast of who might win in 2025 and beyond — StefaKick will be there with analysis, stats, and storytelling.
