The Best Young Player Award is one of the clearest ways to track the next generation of World Cup stars. It usually catches players at the moment when promise turns into global-level authority.
This history guide covers what the award is, every winner so far and the biggest records that stand out from the official list.
Quick Answer
Germany and France share the lead in the men's history with two winners each. The latest winner is Enzo Fernandez, who took the award for Argentina in Qatar 2022.
What Is the Best Young Player Award
FIFA's own award history says the prize goes to the best player in the tournament who is at most 21 years old, with fans voting through FIFA's official platforms. That gives the award a different feel from the Golden Ball, which is about the best player overall regardless of age.
The exact 2026 eligibility wording is still yet to be confirmed, but the modern history of the award is already clear enough to show what FIFA usually values: real minutes, big-match influence and immediate tournament impact.
All-Time Best Young Player Winners
| Year | Tournament | Winner | Country | Goals or Stat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Germany | Lukas Podolski | Germany | 3 goals |
| 2010 | South Africa | Thomas Muller | Germany | 5 goals |
| 2014 | Brazil | Paul Pogba | France | Knockout-stage midfield leader |
| 2018 | Russia | Kylian Mbappe | France | 4 goals, world champion |
| 2022 | Qatar | Enzo Fernandez | Argentina | 7 appearances, 1 goal |
Records and Notable Facts
Most wins by one player
No player has won the men's Best Young Player Award twice, which is exactly what you would expect from an age-limited honour. Every winner effectively gets one shot at the prize.
That makes the list more about eras than repeat dominance.
How far winners usually go
Every official men's winner came from a side that reached at least the quarter-finals. That matters because the award usually follows players who stay visible deep into the tournament rather than prospects who flash briefly in the group stage.
The last two winners, Mbappe in 2018 and Enzo Fernandez in 2022, both ended the tournament as world champions. That makes team success one of the clearest patterns in the history of this prize.
Countries with most wins
Germany and France have the strongest history with two winners each. Germany has Podolski and Muller, while France has Pogba and Mbappe.
Argentina joined the honours list in 2022 through Enzo Fernandez, which matters because it shows the award is no longer limited to Europe-heavy histories.
What This History Suggests for 2026
The history points toward a very clear profile. The 2026 winner will probably be a regular starter or heavy-minutes player from a team that reaches the late knockout rounds.
FIFA still has to publish the final tournament-specific eligibility wording, so the exact shortlist is yet to be confirmed. Even so, the winners list already shows that impact and deep-run visibility usually matter more than hype alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is FIFA's prize for the best eligible young player at the tournament.
Enzo Fernandez won the men's award for Argentina in 2022.
Germany and France lead the men's list with two winners each.
Yes. Every official men's winner came from a side that reached at least the quarter-finals, and the last two winners became world champions.
Conclusion
The Best Young Player winners list is short, but it already reads like a preview of football's Many of the winners used the World Cup as the stage that changed how they were seen forever.
The