The World Cup’s Best Young Player award has a habit of launching careers into superstardom.
Past winners include Thomas Muller, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe and Enzo Fernandez, all of whom used the tournament as a platform to announce themselves to the world. The award is open to players born on or after January 1, 2005, meaning some of football’s brightest young talents will be competing for the prize this summer.
According to the latest Bet9ja odds, there is one clear favourite.
Lamine Yamal (Spain) – 2.50
It’s difficult to argue with the market.
Yamal heads to the World Cup as one of the biggest stars in football despite still being a teenager. The Barcelona winger was instrumental in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and arrives at the tournament after another outstanding season for club and country. Spain are also among the favourites to win the World Cup, which is a huge factor in this market.
The deeper Spain go, the more opportunities Yamal will have to produce the moments that win individual awards.
If La Roja reach the final, it is easy to see why he is the player everyone has to beat.
Desire Doue (France) – 3.25
If anyone is capable of challenging Yamal, it may be Doue.
The PSG star has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the last two seasons and enters the tournament as one of France’s most exciting attacking players. Playing alongside Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise should ensure plenty of attention is diverted away from him.
France are expected to make a deep run, and if Doue delivers in a key knockout match, his odds could look very generous.
Warren Zaire-Emery (France) – 6.00
France have two of the top three players in the betting.
Zaire-Emery may not produce the goals and assists of some of the attacking names in the market, but he remains one of the most influential young midfielders in world football. If France reach the latter stages and he controls games from midfield, he could become a serious contender.
The challenge is that awards such as this often favour attacking players.
Lennart Karl (Germany) – 9.00
Germany’s teenage sensation is the first real outsider on the list.
Karl has broken through at Bayern Munich and earned his place in Germany’s World Cup squad after a stunning season. If Germany make a deep run and Karl becomes one of the stories of the tournament, he has the profile to attract votes.
At 9.00, he is one of the more interesting alternatives to the favourites.
Nico O’Reilly (England) – 13.00
England’s route through the tournament could help O’Reilly.
The young City star has enjoyed a breakout campaign and enters the World Cup with plenty of momentum. England are expected to progress from a group containing Croatia, Ghana and Panama, and if O’Reilly cements a starting role, he could quickly emerge as a contender.
However, he will likely need England to reach at least the semi-finals.
Arda Guler (Türkiye) – 17.00
Guler might be the most dangerous outsider in the entire market.
The Real Madrid playmaker is already the creative heartbeat of Türkiye and will have the freedom to dictate games throughout the tournament. Unlike some young players competing with established stars, Guler is already one of his country’s most important players.
If Türkiye exceed expectations, expect his name to feature prominently.
The Other Contenders
Brazil’s Endrick is available at 19.00 and could explode onto the world stage if given significant minutes. Spain defender Pau Cubarsi is 21.00, while Norway winger Antonio Nusa and Ivory Coast star Yan Diomande are both priced at 26.00.
Further down the market, Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz is available at 34.00, while England’s Lucas Bergvall sits at 41.00.
There are also some huge outsider prices on players such as Kobbie Mainoo and Rayan Vitor, who can both be backed at 51.00.
Best Bet
Yamal is the obvious choice and deserved favourite.
Spain are among the leading contenders to win the World Cup, he is guaranteed to start when fit, and he already has a proven record of delivering on the biggest stages. His combination of individual quality and team success makes him difficult to oppose.
However, if you’re looking for value, Guler at 17.00 stands out. Türkiye have a favourable group and the Real Madrid star is likely to be at the centre of everything they do.
Verdict
The award often goes to a young player who combines individual brilliance with a deep tournament run.
That description fits Yamal perfectly, which explains why he sits comfortably at the top of the market. Spain’s superstar is the man to beat, but Doue, Zaire-Emery and Guler all have realistic claims if their nations outperform expectations.
