
Since 2003, the Italian sports magazine Tuttosport has presented the annual Golden Boy award for the best young player. This year's list of nominees includes players born in 2005 or younger - including Bayer 04 newcomer Eliesse Ben Seghir. Ben Seghir is joined by only one other Bundesliga player in Jobe Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund (via the wild card). In previous years, former Bayer 04 players Florian Wirtz, Odilon Kossounou, Piero Hincapie and Paulinho have been on the shortlist.
The top 100 young players are compiled using an algorithm developed by Football Benchmark and Golden Boy. The decisive factors here are performances at club level and for the respective national team. The top 20 and five wildcard players have now been selected from the 100 nominees. From these nominees, 50 international journalists will select the Golden Boy.
Werkself fans can vote for Ben Seghir in the Golden Boy Web award, an online public vote that includes the full list of 100 nominees: Click HERE to cast your vote.

The Werkself welcome FC Augsburg to the BayArena on Bundesliga matchday 30 in the 2025/26 season. The match on Saturday, 18 April kicks off at 15:30 CEST. Bayer 04 have organised a family matchday with exclusive offers for parents and children. Information on ticket sales.
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The Werkself host VfL Wolfsburg at the BayArena on matchday 28 in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The match is on Saturday, 4 April, with the kick-off at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
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Carlotta Wamser provided the Leverkusen highlight in the international break with her first goal for Germany. There were also reasons to celebrate for several other international players in recent days. Bayer04.de provides an overview of the women's international fixtures.
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The exact timings for the 2025/26 DFB Pokal semi-finals have been finalised. Bayer 04's home tie against Bayern Munich will be played on Wednesday, 22 April, at 20:45 CEST. This was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) this Monday morning.
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