Chelsea winger Estevao has been named among the list of nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy Award. The Brazil international will compete against the likes of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham and Real Madrid talent Franco Mastantuono for the trophy which was last won by Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, who is unable to defend his crown due to the competition’s rules.
Estevao aiming to become third Brazilian to win Golden Boy gong
Estevao is looking to become the third Brazilian to get his hands on the Golden Boy award after being named among a star-studded list of young hopefuls. The 18-year-old is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester United midfielder Anderson and ex-Milan striker Alexandre Pato by scooping the gong – created by Italian publication and honouring the best player in the world under the age of 21 – which they won in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportRevealed: The full list of nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy award
Released on Wednesday evening, the full list of nominees includes:
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain)
Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and Spain)
Kenan Yildiz (Juventus and Turkey)
Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal and England)
Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
Arda Guler (Real Madrid and Turkey)
Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid and Argentina)
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Jorrel Hato (Chelsea and Netherlands)
Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP)
Estevao (Chelsea and Brazil)
Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Senny Mayulu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen and Morocco)
Rodrigo Mora (Porto)
Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool)
Victor Froholdt (Porto and Denmark)
Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham and Sweden)
Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter and Italy)
Archie Gray (Tottenham)
Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea and Strasbourg)
Aleksandar Stankovic (Club Brugge and Serbia)
Estevao's nomination comes off the back of promising Chelsea start
Estevao’s nomination comes off the back of his promising start to life at Chelsea. After joining the Blues in the summer following a pre-existing agreement with Brazilian side Palmeiras, the teen sensation has recorded one goal and one assist apiece in six Premier League appearances in 2025-26, including scoring the winner in the last-gasp 2-1 victory over Liverpool prior to the international break.
Getty Images SportBellingham and Mastantuono also vying for Golden Boy prize
Also hoping to win the prize are Dortmund and Real duo Bellingham and Mastantuono. After helping Sunderland win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League last season, Bellingham joined Dortmund in the summer and has featured in all six of his side's Bundesliga fixtures this season. The 20-year-old is looking to match the achievement of his older brother, Jude, who was named the 2023 Golden Boy. Meanwhile, Argentina international Mastantuono has been in fine form in his debut season at Real, scoring one league goal in seven appearances to help Xabi Alonso’s side ascend to the top of La Liga.