Moroccan talents Bouaddi and Aït Boudlal shortlisted for 2026 Golden Boy award

Tuesday 14 July 2026 - 15:41

By: Azzat Manal

Moroccan talents Bouaddi and Aït Boudlal shortlisted for 2026 Golden Boy award

Moroccan football prospects Ayyoub Bouaddi and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal have been named among the nominees for the 2026 Golden Boy Award, one of Europe's most prestigious individual honors for young footballers.

Published annually by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport, the Golden Boy shortlist recognizes the most promising under-21 players competing in Europe's top leagues. The inclusion of two Moroccan players reflects the country's growing reputation for producing elite young talent capable of competing at the highest level.

Bouaddi, an emerging midfielder, has attracted attention for his composed performances and technical quality throughout the past season. His rapid development has earned him recognition among Europe's brightest young players and strengthened his reputation as one of Morocco's most exciting football prospects.

Defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal also secured a place on the shortlist after impressing with his defensive consistency and steady progress. His performances have highlighted his potential to establish himself among the continent's top young defenders in the coming years.

The 2026 Golden Boy race features several of Europe's leading young stars representing major clubs across Spain, France, England, Germany, and Italy. The award has historically served as an indicator of future football excellence, with many previous winners going on to become world-class players.

Under the competition's rules, previous Golden Boy winners cannot receive the award a second time, creating opportunities for a new generation of emerging talents to compete for the trophy.

The final winner will be selected through a combination of statistical performance analysis, votes from an international panel of sports journalists, and public fan participation. The shortlist will be progressively reduced before the recipient is announced during the official award ceremony later this year.

For Morocco, the nominations underline the continued success of the country's investment in youth football development. Following recent achievements by the national team and the growing presence of Moroccan players in Europe's leading leagues, the recognition of Bouaddi and Aït Boudlal further demonstrates the depth of talent emerging from Moroccan football.