Golden Boy 2026: who leads the ranking and which star returns to the list of candidates

Pau Cubarsí ranked first in the latest update of the Golden Boy 2026 Top 100. The Barcelona defender placed ahead of Lamine Yamal and Yan Diomande, one of the major newcomers from Real Madrid.

The Barcelona defender reached the top spot in the latest ranking update, after standing out with the Spanish national team during the World Cup. Cubarsí played all eight matches of the tournament and was recognized as the best young player of the tournament, a performance that allowed him to climb to the top of the ranking.

Lamine Yamal occupies second place

In second place is Lamine Yamal, also a Barcelona player. The winger had led the ranking for 117 weeks, but was displaced in the latest update by his teammate Cubarsí.

However, there is an important peculiarity: Yamal cannot win the Golden Boy again, as he already won the award in 2024. For this reason, although he remains among the top positions in the ranking, he will not be able to claim the award again.

The Spaniard was named Golden Boy two years ago, establishing himself as one of the great figures of the new generation of European football.

Yan Diomande, the great newcomer from Real Madrid

The third place belongs to Ivorian Yan Diomande, one of the major novelties in the Top 100 update.

The forward, recently signed by Real Madrid, made a significant rise in the ranking after his performance in the World Cup. His growth immediately positioned him among the main contenders for recognition.

The list is backed by statistical data from Transfermarkt and will be updated periodically until October. Subsequently, the candidates will be reduced to 20 finalists, from which the winner will emerge through the voting of an international jury.