Meknes – Morocco’s impressive youth development has taken center stage once again, as rising stars Ayyoub Bouaddi and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal both secured spots on the newly released 2026 Golden Boy shortlist.
Published on Monday by the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport, the prestigious 100-man roster highlights the finest under-21 talents playing in Europe. The list means the two Moroccan prospects have earned their spots among the continent’s elite talents.
Morocco’s rising midfielder, Bouaddi, has secured prestigious recognition on the European stage after being ranked fifth in the early standings for the 2026 Golden Boy award.
The 18-year-old player sits high up on the 100-man shortlist, which is led by Barcelona’s superstar Lamine Yamal, proving Bouaddi’s spectacular rise and mature performances in Ligue 1 over the past season.
Stade Rennais defender Aït Boudlal also made the top 100 list. The Moroccan youngster has caught the eye of scouts in France with his rapid development, earning well-deserved recognition as one of Europe’s top defensive talents.
While Barcelona’s superstar Lamine Yamal currently leads the performance index, tournament rules state that previous winners cannot reclaim the trophy.
This restriction opens up a major opportunity for top-five contenders like Bouaddi to legitimately challenge for the crown.
The star-studded shortlist also features Real Madrid’s Brazilian prodigy Endrick alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s trio of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Senny Mayulu, and Ibrahim Mbaye.
The Ligue 1 talent presence continues with nominations for Lyon’s Khalis Merah, Monaco’s promising duo Mathis Tourrain and Aladji Bamba, and Lens prospect Andrea Boulet.
The Italian newspaper Tuttosport will award the prestigious prize later this year, with 100 of Europe’s top young talents now competing to succeed last year’s winner Désiré Doué.
The winner will be chosen through a mix of performance data, a panel of sports journalists, and a public fan vote, which is already open online to support nominees before the list is narrowed down ahead of the winter ceremony.
