Barcelona gem remains the only major Golden Boy candidate competing for an international title

Spain's forward #19 Lamine Yamal gestures during the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final football match between Spain and Germany at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart on July 5, 2024.

Photo by TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images

The FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has carried on his amazing club form to his national side as he is shining in the UEFA EURO 2024 with Spain. The youngster has been key for Luis de la Fuente in this competition and has featured in all the games up to now for his side.

Although he is yet to score a goal, a feat that will make him the youngster goalscorer in the history of the competition, he has still been decisive for his team offensively. In fact, with his three assists, he is the leading assist provider in the tournament up to now.

The latest of these assists came in the quarter-final game between Spain and Germany, as it was his pass that Dani Olmo converted to give Spain the lead in the second half. Later, Germany equalized to take the game to extra time, but Mikel Merino scored a goal just before the end of this extra time to take Spain to the semis.

Thus, Barcelona wonderkid is still alive and competing in this tournament, and as Mundo Deportivo has noted, he is now the only major candidate for the next Golden Boy Award who is still competing for a major international trophy this summer.

Two other possible candidates for this trophy saw their teams getting eliminated from their respective tournaments last night. One of these candidates was Arda Guler, who has also provided two assists and scored one goal in the UEFA EURO 2024 with Turkey.

His side was defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands last night, despite Guler having provided the assist for the goal that put his side ahead in the first half.

Similarly, Brazil’s loss to Uruguay in the penalty shoot-out in the 2024 Copa America quarter-finals saw Endrick getting eliminated from the American competition.

Thus, Lamine Yamal, who was already the favorite to win the Golden Boy Award this time, stands alone to further enhance his chances by impressing again with Spain in the semi-final, and possibly the final as well.