Eli Junior Kroupi among three French Golden Boy finalists

The 2026 Golden Boy race has three French representatives, with Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, Borussia Dortmund defender Joane Gadou and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery included among the contenders to succeed Désiré Doué. Doué claimed the 2025 award, while Zaïre-Emery is the only PSG player on this year’s list.

The shortlist contains 25 players. Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, 19, is regarded as the leading candidate after winning the 2026 World Cup with Spain and being named the tournament’s best young player. Lamine Yamal does not appear because previous winners cannot receive the prize again; the Barcelona forward won it in 2024.

Since 2023, 20 places have been allocated through the Golden Boy Football Benchmark Index, which assesses performances over the previous 12 months through December 31. Five additional wild cards complete the field. Gadou received one of those selections after developing at PSG and making a strong start to his time at Dortmund.

A panel of sports journalists from major European media organisations will choose the winner. Its assessment will cover performances, playing time and the strength of each player’s club, alongside an additional measure for international and European achievements.