Zadok Yohanna Named Among 2026 Golden Boy Top 100 Contenders
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Nigerian teenager Zadok Yohanna has secured a spot in the latest Golden Boy top‑100 list for 2026, as released by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport.
The annual award highlights the best footballers under 21 based on their performances during the calendar year. At 19 years old, Yohanna is ranked 80th after a strong first half of 2026.
Yohanna joined Brighton from Swedish side AIK Stockholm in the summer, signing a five‑year contract that runs until June 2031.
During his time at AIK, he netted five goals and contributed four assists in 18 appearances, catching the attention of scouts across Europe.
His form also earned him a call‑up to Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 Unity Cup, although AIK refused to release him because the tournament fell outside FIFA’s official international window.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal leads the current rankings, but he is ineligible to win the Golden Boy again after claiming the prize in 2024, as previous winners cannot receive the award a second time.
Other notable names on the shortlist include Arsenal’s Miles Lewis‑Skelley, Chelsea’s Estevao, PSG’s Warren Zaire‑Emery, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande, Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl and Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato.
The Golden Boy trophy has previously been lifted by legends such as Lionel Messi, Cesc Fàbregas, Sergio Agüero, Isco, Pedri, Gavi and Jude Bellingham.
Spain remains the most successful nation in the award’s history with four winners, followed by France with three. Argentina, Brazil, England, the Netherlands and Portugal have each produced two victors.
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