By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Paris Saint-Germain’s 20-year-old French winger Désiré Doué was crowned the 2025 Golden Boy on Monday night, collecting Europe’s most prestigious prize for the best footballer under 21 at a star-studded gala in Turin.
The former Rennes prodigy, who moved to the French capital in the summer of 2024, received an overwhelming 450 out of 500 possible points from a jury of 50 leading journalists, comfortably beating finalists including Chelsea’s Estêvão, Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Doué’s sensational 2024-25 campaign delivered 16 goals and 16 assists in 61 appearances, with his defining moment coming in the Champions League final: two goals and an assist in PSG’s 5-0 rout of Inter Milan that secured the club’s first European Cup and completed a domestic treble.
“This is a feeling of great pride and happiness,” Doué said on stage. “I dedicate this award to my family, my teammates, coach Luis Enrique and president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, who believed in me from day one. Without the trophies we won together, I wouldn’t be here tonight.”
The night was a Parisian triumph. Club president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi was named Best President of the Year, while sporting advisor Luis Campos picked up the Best Football Executive award.
Doué becomes the fourth Frenchman to claim the Golden Boy after Paul Pogba (2013), Anthony Martial (2015) and Kylian Mbappé (2017), and the first PSG winner since Mbappé eight years ago.
Already nicknamed “Mr. Golden Boy” by teammate Achraf Hakimi, the €90-million-rated attacker – now with five senior France caps – insisted the honour is only a starting point as he looks to follow in the footsteps of past winners such as Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney and Erling Haaland.
For Désiré Doué and Paris Saint-Germain, the future looks brighter than ever.
Galaxy Sports Production
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