
The Italian sports journal Tuttosport has presented the Golden Boy prize for the best young player annually since 2003. This year the vote is for players born in 2003 or later. Werkself player Florian Wirtz is listed seventh in the nominations. Last year, Bayer 04 player Piero Hincapie was on the list.
You can vote now for Wirtz for the Golden Boy Web, open exclusively to fans. Click HERE to vote.
Nine other Bundesliga players are on the list alongside Wirtz: Jamal Musiala, Mathys Tel (both Bayern Munich), Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Yossoufa Moukoko (both Borussia Dortmund), Tim Oermann (VfL Bochum 1848), Arne Engels (FC Augsburg), Luca Netz (Borussia Mönchengladbach) and Kevin Paredes (VfL Wolfsburg).
The Golden Boy award:
The top 100 young players is determined via an algorithm of Football Benchmark and Golden Boy. From the long list of 100 nominees, the top 20 plus five wild card players are named in October. 50 international journalists then vote for the Golden Boy from the shortlist.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. The 25-year-old has signed a contract with the club to 30 June 2031. Gutiérrez came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid; he moved to Italy a year ago from Girona, and he played a key role for Napoli with 36 appearances. The big Italian club finished last season as runners-up in Serie A.
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New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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