PARIS (BN24) — French forward Désiré Doué has been named the 2025 Golden Boy, capping a breakthrough season with Paris Saint-Germain and joining an elite lineage of French talent recognized on the European stage.
The accolade, awarded by Italian sports daily Tuttosport, honors the best footballer aged 21 or under playing in a European top-flight league. Doué, currently sidelined with a thigh injury, emerged ahead of contenders including Dean Huijsen, Pau Cubarsí, Arda Güler, and Franco Mastantuono.
Doué follows in the footsteps of French predecessors Paul Pogba (2013), Anthony Martial (2015), and Kylian Mbappé (2017), becoming only the fourth player from France to claim the prestigious award.
The 20-year-old Rennes academy graduate joined PSG last summer in a €50 million transfer and quickly established himself as a pivotal figure in Luis Enrique’s squad. Despite a season hampered by injuries, Doué has accumulated four caps for France and has impressed with his creativity, work rate, and tactical intelligence in midfield.
His meteoric rise has been recognized beyond the Golden Boy trophy. Doué finished 14th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or and was runner-up for the Kopa Trophy, signaling his growing global stature. Last year’s Golden Boy, Lamine Yamal, was ineligible to retain the award due to Tuttosport’s one-win rule, clearing the way for Doué to claim the honor.
The Golden Boy shortlist is determined using the Football Benchmark Index, a data-driven ranking of the world’s top U21 players that evolves throughout the season, highlighting Doué’s consistent impact on the field.
PSG fans and football enthusiasts alike now watch eagerly as Doué aims to continue his ascent, combining his talent with the experience of Europe’s top competition, potentially cementing his place among football’s brightest young stars.
