Golden Boy 2018: Pulisic, McKennie and Havertz lead list of 14 Bundesliga nominees

The list of nominees for the Golden Boy award, which crowns the best player under 21 years of age in the elite of world football, is flush with talented youngsters who ply their trade in Germany.

Which starlets are up for the award previously won by Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Götze in 2011 and Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches in 2016? bundesliga.com has the scoop.

A wide net of talent

With 14 individual players from 10 different clubs in the running for this prestigious award, the depth of talent on display every weekend in the Bundesliga is clear for everyone to see. The fact that recently-promoted Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Davor Lovren is also in the list further highlights this fact and illustrates the quality work being done in German football at every level.

Homegrown heroes are also a common thread amongst the nominees, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz, Bayern Munich’s Fabian Benko, Hertha Berlin’s Arne Maier, and Hoffenheim’s Dennis Geiger all coming from their respective clubs’ youth academies.

A keen eye for future stars

Bundesliga scouting departments are also worthy of praise looking at the list of 2018 Golden Boy nominees. American sensations Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) and Weston McKennie (Schalke) are joined by other foreign talents who found a home in Germany like France’s Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig) and England’s Reece Oxford, whose nomination comes from playing with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Full list of Bundesliga nominees for the 2018 Golden Boy:

-Fabian Benko, Bayern Munich

-Javairo Dilrosun, Hertha Berlin

-Arne Maier, Hertha Berlin

-Mamadou Doucoure, Borussia Monchengladbach

-Reece Oxford, Borussia Monchengladbach

-Dennis Geiger, Hoffenheim

-Kai Havertz, Bayer Leverkusen

-Panagiotis Retsos, Bayer Leverkusen

-Alexander Isak, Borussia Dortmund

-Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund

-Davor Lovren, Fortuna Dusseldorf

-Weston McKennie, Schalke

-Idrissa Toure, Werder Bremen

-Dayot Upamecano, RB Leipzig