The Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday 22 September 2025.
Alongside the main prize, the Golden Boy will be awarded – given each year to the best U21 player in Europe.
This year’s criteria:
Players must be born in 2005 or later
They must play in one of Europe’s top leagues
A player can only win once (which rules out Lamine Yamal, who won in 2024)
Here’s the Score 90 Top 20 Ranking.
20: Ayyoub Bouaddi – Lille
Seventeen-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi made 36 appearances for Lille last season, including a Champions League start against Real Madrid on his birthday. A genuine breakthrough year for the French midfielder.
19: Lucas Bergvall- Tottenham Hotspur
The Swede featured 45 times in his debut season for Spurs, helping them lift the Europa League. He also opened his account with a goal against Liverpool in the EFL Cup.
18: Kobbie Mainoo- Manchester United
English starlet Kobbie Mainoo burst onto the scene at Old Trafford a couple of years ago under Erik Ten Hag, and was firmly established in the side last season during a rocky period. Two goals in United’s run to the Europa League final underline his progress, though an injury in February held him back.
17: Tom Bischof- Hoffenheim/Bayern
Bischof stood out in a struggling Hoffenheim side and joined Bayern on a free transfer this summer. The 19-year-old midfielder is part of the club’s next generation push.
16: Senny Mayulu- PSG
Mayulu’s breakout included scoring in the Champions League final against Inter. At 19, he played a role in PSG’s quadruple and delivered one of the moments of the season.
15: Rodrigo Mora- Porto
The 18-year-old scored 10 and assisted four in his first Primeira Liga campaign. Already a key figure for Porto, Mora is attracting big interest.
14: Geovany Quenda- Sporting/Chelsea
Chelsea paid €50m for the teenager after he featured in every league game for Sporting’s title-winning side. Two goals and four assists capped a standout season.
13: Ethan Nwaneri- Arsenal
Nwaneri registered nine goals and two assists in 37 appearances for Arsenal. At just 18, he remains one of England’s top prospects.
12: Leny Yoro- Manchester United
An early injury disrupted his debut season, but Yoro still showed his quality under Ruben Amorim. The French defender has one of the highest ceilings in Europe.
11: Jorrel Hato- Ajax/Chelsea
Hato played 50 times last season, operating at both left-back and centre-back. Three goals and six assists highlight his all-round game before his move to Chelsea.
10: Warren Zaïre-Emery- PSG
Despite fierce competition in midfield, Zaïre-Emery started over 30 times for PSG’s all-conquering side. He’s still only 19.
9: Eliesse Ben Seghir- Monaco/Leverkusen
Nine goals and four assists for Monaco earned Ben Seghir a move to Bayer Leverkusen. His dribbling and creativity mark him out as one to watch.
8: Myles Lewis-Skelly- Arsenal
The 18-year-old filled in at left-back for much of last season, making 39 appearances. His athleticism and composure were key to Arsenal’s title challenge.
7: Franco Mastantuono- River Plate/Real Madrid
With 11 goal contributions in 22 games for River Plate, Mastantuono moved to Real Madrid at just 17. Already starting in La Liga, he looks a generational talent.
6: Estevao- Palmeiras/Chelsea
The Brazilian winger scored 27 and assisted 15 for Palmeiras since 2024 before joining Chelsea. Only just turned 18, he’s already making an impact under Enzo Maresca.
5: Arda Guler- Real Madrid
Six goals and 10 assists last season for Madrid underline Güler’s steady rise. At 20, he remains one of Europe’s most gifted creators.
4: Pau Cubarsí- Barcelona
Cubarsí played 56 times as Barcelona regained La Liga and nearly reached the Champions League final. At 17, he’s already dominating against Europe’s best forwards.
3: Kenan Yildiz- Juventus
Despite Juve’s struggles, Yıldız delivered nine goals and six assists. The Turkish forward was their standout attacking option across the season.
2: Dean Huijsen- Bournemouth/Real Madrid
A superb season at Bournemouth earned Huijsen a big move to Madrid. His composure and defensive range mark him as one of Europe’s brightest centre-backs. A worthy runner up.
1: Desiré Doué- PSG
Fifteen goals, 14 assists, a Champions League and a domestic treble. Doué’s debut season in Paris was outstanding, and at 19 he’s already PSG’s new star.
Yamal has competition at the top of the game for the next decade to come.
