Barcelona wonderkid leading the charge for the 2024 Golden Boy Award

Italian publication TuttoSport has confirmed that Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is currently leading the race for Golden Boy 2024. Furthermore, defender Pau Cubarsi is currently 13th and former winner Gavi is 17th.

Yamal is making a strong case for himself as one of the top young players in the game today and his position in the aforementioned award solidifies his stature even more.

The race is on

The race to succeed Real Madrid’s midfield maestro Jude Bellingham as the Golden Boy 2024 is well underway. 

The contenders are evaluated through a comprehensive ranking system called the Golden Boy Football Benchmark Index, which considers factors like player performance, playing time, team value, national team contributions, and European competition performances.

The assessment period spans from October 2023 to October 2024. As of April, Yamal, who has scored six goals and has provided seven assists, sits at the top of the leaderboard with an impressive score of 91.9.

Lamine Yamal is leading the race for Golden Boy 2024. (Photo by PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images)

Interestingly, Yamal faces stiff competition from Joao Neves of Benfica who follows him closely with 91.2 points, and Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United trails with 90 points in this dynamically updated ranking.

More representation from Barcelona

It is worth noting that Yamal is not the lone representative of FC Barcelona on this esteemed list as Cubarsi holds the 13th position with a solid score of 77.6 points. 

Interestingly, Gavi, the 2022 recipient of the award, occupies the 17th spot with 75.2 points despite limited game time due to a severe knee injury suffered in November. 

Remarkably, Barcelona boasts three players on the list, second only to Brighton, who contributes four players.

In essence, Yamal’s ascent to the top spot underscores Barcelona’s formidable presence in nurturing young talent, with promising prospects like Cubarsi and the resilient Gavi further reinforcing their position in the footballing landscape.