World Cup: Desire Doué and 3 other youngsters battling for Young Player Award
By Luke Oluoch, July 8, 2026French winger Desire Doué and Spain’s wonderkid Lamine Yamal have been ranked among the emerging young talents in contention for the 2026 World Cup Young Player of the tournament.
The duo joins England’s left back Nico O’Reilly and Morocco’s Ayoub Bouaddi, who similarly staked their respective claims by helping their nations reach the quarter-finals.
Here is the profile of the remaining brightest starlets and the task ahead of them as the quarterfinal stage comes calling from Thursday, July 9, 2026.
Lamine Yamal
Despite approaching the tournament with a hamstring issue, the 18-year-old had gradually made his way into the La Roja’s team as the game progressed. He came off the bench on Matchday 1 as Luis De La Fuente drew 0-0 with Cape Verde but has started every game since.
After opening his World Cup account against Austria in the last 32, the Barcelona youngster completed his first full 90 minutes of the tournament against Portugal, showing flashes of his trademark brilliance as the 2010 champions eliminated the Portuguese to set up a clash with Belgium in the final eight.
Ayou Bouaddi
Morocco’s midfield dynamo will continue his quest for the ambitious accolade after the Atlas Lions head to Boston to face a star-studded French team.
Following an assured and confident display pulling the strings against the Dutch team in the round of 32, the Lille midfielder stayed on the team starting X1 to make another telling performance in an emphatic win over hosts Canada as Mohammed Ouhabi stormed the quarterfinals.
He will fancy his chances against Desire Doue, the 21-year-old French star who is leading the run for the gong.
Desire Doue
With the stars in the shape of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise leading the plaudits, Doue has silently delivered when it matters for Didier Deschamps’ team, as witnessed in their last round of 16 victory over Paraguay.
The PSG winger came on to unlock the cagey and equally feisty encounter, cementing his bid for the youngsters’ awards by winning the decisive penalty that Mbappe converted to edge Les Bleus past stubborn Paraguay last time out.