Lamine Yamal Wins 2024 Golden Boy: Youngest Ever at 17

Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal’s year has gotten even better.

The Spaniard has won the Golden Boy Award for 2024, a prestigious annual award given by Italian publication Tuttosport. He won at the age of 17 years and four months, making him the youngest-ever player to be given the honor.

The award, which consists of a panel of top European sports journalists, was won by Yamal with a staggering 97.6% of the vote, breaking another record. He won the award over other impressive young elite talents such as Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo, and Warren Zaire-Emery. It completes an extraordinary year for Yamal, who also won the Kopa Trophy at the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, an award given to the top player of the year under the age of 21.

Yamal first made his debut at Barcelona at the age of 15 in 2023, and ever since then he has established himself as one of the most elite young players in the game. That season, he played 50 matches in all competitions and scored 9 goals and 10 assists. Despite recovering from an ankle injury, he started the 2024/25 season in even better form, scoring 6 goals in 16 appearances as Barcelona search for another La Liga title.

His hot form has continued into the national team, playing a major role in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory in Germany. He recorded one goal and four assists and was named Young Player of the Tournament, further capping his excellent year.

Previous winners of the award include Jude Bellingham (2023), Gavi (2022), Pedri (2021), and Erling Halaand (2020).