Real Madrid starlet backed for Golden Boy award by father – ‘Yamal will no longer be able to compete’ | OneFootball

As we almost enter October, Tuttosport’s prestigious Golden Boy award will once again be a focal point.

The Golden Boy award is a coveted trophy that is given to the best U21 prodigy in world football. Barcelona players have dominated this category in recent years, with the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal winning the trophy.

Yamal was the last one to win the trophy. However, as the trophy limits itself to only one winner, one of the players who could be in contention to win the prize this year is Dean Huijsen.

Huijsen’s father on Golden Boy award

“If we take into account that the leader Yamal will no longer be able to compete, since he has already won, here’s Dean on the podium, not bad,” said Donny Huijsen, the father of Dean Huijsen, during an interview with Tuttosport (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

His father went on to talk about how PSG are expecting Desire Doue to win, having won everything in 2025.

“From Paris they insist that the prize cannot escape Doué. He has won practically everything in 2025. I congratulate the Frenchman on his brilliant season with Paris Saint-Germain. The results and successes achieved prove it,” he said.

Dean Huijsen is eyeing the Golden Boy award this year. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

However, Donny Huijsen defended his son’s chances of winning the Golden Boy award by highlighting his performances in the Premier League as well.

“As for my son, in his first year in the Premier League he played so well that he deserved a move to Real Madrid. That must count for something, right?” he said.

“In fact, I’ve seen that in the current Football Benchmark ranking published on Tuttosport, he’s ranked fourth out of 100 candidates,” before going on to mention that Yamal has already won it and is, therefore, ineligible to participate again.

Huijsen’s father added that the young defender is ambitious and is eyeing much more just the Golden Boy award.

“He’s very ambitious. In addition, to dreaming of the Golden Boy this year—his last chance because he’ll no longer be eligible for the title in 2026 upon turning 21, he wants to win it all,” he said.

“La Liga, the Champions League, the Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey with Real Madrid, and the World Cup with Spain,” he listed.

Real Madrid, for their part, are extremely happy with the way Huijsen has performed so far, although he was given a stern warning by Xabi Alonso for his performance against Atletico Madrid in the last game.