A season of excellence rewarded. Désiré Doué was crowned Golden Boy 2025 on Tuesday 4 November, an award given since 2003 by journalists to the best player under 21 playing in Europe. The striker thus follows in the footsteps of Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial and Kylian Mbappé, French internationals who also won the trophy a few years ago.
Trained at the Rouge et Noir Academy, Désiré Doué has had a very successful 2024/2025 season, capped off by a dazzling performance in the Champions League final against Milan, with two goals and an assist.
Ranked 14th in the Ballon d'Or and 2nd in the Raymond Kopa Trophy, the former Rennes player further confirms his status as one of the greatest hopes in European football.
Congratulations, Désiré!
Since the Golden Boy award was created in 2003, no club had ever produced both the Ballon d'Or and Golden Boy winners in the same season. With Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué, Stade Rennais F.C. has now achieved this feat.
