Youth leaders

FC Barcelona has always been a leading club in the promotion of young talent, and at Tuttosport they are very aware of that. The Golden Boy awards have a habit of recognising the youngsters that have emerged from La Masia and the amazing breakthroughs of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí and the ongoing brilliance of Gavi means the trio of La Masia graduates have all been shortlisted among the 100 candidates this year's award, where they are also joined by Brazilian signing Vitor Roque. 

Brighton & Hove Albion are the only other team that can boast four players on the list, although the four Barça players are considerably higher ranked at the time of writing, with Lamine Yamal top of the pile (1), and Pau Cubarsí (8), Gavi (20) and Vitor Roque (50) also strongly placed.  

Blaugrana tradition

It is nothing unusual for Barça players to feature in this lists. As recently as 2022, Gavi scooped the Golden Boy prize (while Pedri, Ansu Fati and Nico González were also candidates). And the year before the winner was Pedri. 

It's no surprise to learn that Leo Messi was a previous winner way back in 2005, and Manchester United is the only other club that can boast three winners. Atlético Madrid are one of three clubs that have had two winners (both of whom, João Félix and Sergio Agüero, later joined Barça), the other double winners being Ajax and Borussia Dortmund. 

We mustn't forget Cesc Fábregas, who won the award although he had left La Masia at the time and was at Arsenal. Barça have also had several players come second in the rankling, namely Leo Messi (2006 and 2007), Thiago Alcántara (2011), Ansu Fati (2020) and Alejandro Balde (2023). Although he was never at La Masia, Ousmane Dembélé also finished second while at Barça. 

Now, with Lamine Yamal in pole position to win the Golden Boy 2024, there are high hopes of Barça's incredible record in this award being continued with the inclusion of yet another name!