Yann Diomandé, Ayoub Bouaddi, and Cubarsí in the running for the 2026 Golden Boy award

Yann Diomandé and Moroccan Ayoub Bouaddi—are set to compete against Pau Cubarsí and 23 other nominees for the 2026 Golden Boy award.

Although Cubarsí is among the top favorites to win this award, there is genuine competition for this year’s prize from several other contenders who delivered outstanding performances throughout the past season—both for their clubs and their national teams.

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19-year-old Diomandé, along with Ayoub Bouaddi, has a great opportunity to break the trend, as no African player has ever won this award before.

Golden Boy 2026: Ayoub is among the top contenders

The Moroccan star, who recently moved from Lille to Manchester, has climbed to third place in the race for the 2026 Golden Boy award. His role in reaching the World Cup quarter-finals with the Moroccan national team, his command of the midfield, and the high level of technical skill he displayed—notably in the match against Brazil—have truly captured attention.

His standout performance in the World Cup matches he played brought him into the spotlight, ultimately convincing Manchester City of the importance of signing him as a replacement for Rodri—who had departed for Barcelona.

Yann Diomandé and Pau Cubarsí’s rivalry for the 2026 Golden Boy award

Diomande offers a different kind of case. The Ivorian winger found the net 12 times and set up eight more for RB Leipzig last season, form that persuaded Real Madrid to make him the most expensive African signing in football history at around £110.5m. He also featured from the start in all four of Ivory Coast's World Cup matches.

Settling in at the Bernabeu has proven tougher, though. Seven La Liga appearances have yielded just two starts and no goals — hardly the evidence his candidacy needs — and Diomande has himself admitted publicly that his minutes in Madrid are limited.

Standing in the way of both candidates is Pau Cubarsi. The Barcelona centre-back won the World Cup with Spain, was crowned the tournament's best young player, and has held down a regular starting berth in Hansi Flick's side. He placed third in the 2025 edition, and by almost any measure his 2026 dossier is the strongest among the finalists.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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