Bosnian football player Kerim Alajbegović is among the ten candidates for the prestigious Young Talent of the Year award, presented as part of the Ballon d’Or selection.
Alajbegović, who is only 18 years old, has had a very successful season, in which he played in 54 games, scored 14 goals and registered six assists. He got six yellow cards and has not yet been sent off.
The young Bosnian international represented RB Salzburg during the 2025/2026 season before joining Juventus in August 2026. This marks Alajbegović’s first nomination for the world young player of the year award.
There are nine more exceptionally talented footballers from various European clubs competing for the prestigious award.
Lamine Yamal as the No. 1 Favourite
Among the candidates, Lamine Yamal particularly stands out – a 19-year-old Barcelona attacker and one of the world of football’s brightest young talents.
Yamal had an impressive season behind him. He played 57 matches, scored 25 goals, and provided 20 assists. He also won the World Cup, the Spanish league, and the Spanish Super Cup.
This is Yamal’s third nomination for the Young Talent of the Year, having finished in first place in both of his previous two nominations – in 2024 and 2025.
Cubarsí also among the Candidates
Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí is also on the list of nominees. The 19-year-old centre-back played 62 matches last season, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
With Barcelona, Cubarsí won the World Cup, the Spanish League, and the Spanish Super Cup. This is his third nomination, while he had his best finish in 2024 when he was placed fifth.
Candidate and a Winner of Numerous Trophies
Warren Zaïre-Emery is also among the nominees, the 20-year-old French footballer for Paris Saint-Germain.
During the 2025/26 season, Warren Zaïre-Emery made 62 appearances, scored three goals, and provided six assists. His season stood out the most due to the number of trophies won.
With PSG, he won the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, the European Super Cup, the French league title, and the Trophée des Champions.
This is the Frenchman’s second nomination for this award, with his best finish being eighth place in 2024.
Candidates from Germany, France, Switzerland, Morocco, and Algeria
Lennart Karl is also on the list, an 18-year-old Bayern forward. In the last season, Karl played 44 matches, scored 12 goals, and provided eight assists. With Bayern, he won the German league title, Cup, and Super Cup.
His compatriot, Johan Manzambi, who plays as a central and attacking midfielder, made 61 appearances, scored 12 goals and provided eight assists. Last season he played for Freiburg, while he has been an Aston Villa player since July 2026.
The French forward Éli Junior Kroupi is among the candidates. The 20-year-old Bournemouth footballer played 40 matches and scored 16 goals, without a registered assist.
Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old defensive midfielder from Morocco, made 55 appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists. After Lille, he has been playing for Manchester City since August 2026. This is his second nomination, having finished ninth in 2025.
Ibrahim Maza represents Algeria, a 20-year-old central/attacking midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. In the season behind him, he played 61 matches, scored seven goals, and provided seven assists.
Yan Diomandé from Ivory Coast rounds up the list. The 19-year-old forward played 50 matches, scored 16 goals, and provided ten assists. After RB Leipzig, he has been a Real Madrid player since August 2026.
Alajbegović among the Top 10 Best Young Talents
It is particularly significant for Bosnia and Herzegovina that Alajbegović himself made the list of ten nominees.
His 14 goals and six assists in 54 matches place him among the players who left a significant mark in a previous season, and a transfer from RB Salzburg to Juventus further confirms that his career is moving toward the pinnacle of European football.
However, the competition is strong. The list includes players who have already won major European and national trophies, as well as those with impressive individual numbers.
Among those who stand out in particular are Yamal with 25 goals and 20 assists, Diomandé and Kroupi with 16 goals each, while Alajbegović, Cubarsí, Zaïre-Emery, and the rest of the candidates also had impressive seasons.
This is Kerim Alajbegović’s first nomination for the Young Talent of the Year award, and the final standings will reveal whether the young Bosnian footballer can take the next step and secure a spot among the world’s best-ranked young players.
All Candidates for the Young Talent of the Year Award
Kerim Alajbegović – Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 years old, RB Salzburg/Juventus – 54 matches, 14 goals, six assists
Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco, 18 years old, Lille/Manchester City – 55 matches, one goal, two assists
Pau Cubarsí – Spain, 19 years old, Barcelona – 62 matches, one goal, two assists
Yan Diomandé – Ivory Coast, 19 years old, RB Leipzig/Real Madrid – 50 matches, 16 goals, 10 assists
Lennart Karl – Germany, 18 years, Bayern München – 44 matches, 12 goals, eighth assists
Éli Junior Kroupi – France, 20 years, Bournemouth – 40 matches, 16 goals
Lamine Yamal – Spain, 19 years, Barcelona – 57 matches, 25 goals, 20 assists
Johan Manzambi – Switzerland, 20 years, Freiburg/Aston Villa – 61 matches, 12 goals, eight assists
Ibrahim Maza – Algeria, 20 years, Bayer Leverkusen – 61 matches, seven goals, seven assists
Warren Zaïre-Emery – France, 20 years, Paris Saint-Germain – 62 matches, three goals, six assists
The nomination itself is a significant recognition for Alajbegović, who, at just 18 years old, finds himself among the top ten young footballers from around the world.
