FIFA World Cup 2026 Young Player Award candidates: Which Bundesliga star could win it?
Every FIFA World Cup creates new stars, and the Bundesliga looks set to provide several of them again in 2026. From RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande to Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl, Germany’s top flight is packed with talents who could conceivably win the coveted Best Young Player prize.
First awarded in 1958 to Pelé, the FIFA Young Player Award is handed out to the best player at a World Cup finals under the age of 21. Here are some of the Bundesliga stars who are in with a shot of winning it in North America...
Yan Diomande - Côte d'Ivoire
Winger Diomande's first year in German football has been nothing short of spectacular. Arriving at Leipzig last summer from Spanish outfit Leganés, he has registered 21 goal contributions on his way to winning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award.
Alongside the likes of Amad Diallo and Bazoumana Touré, he is a key member of an exciting Côte d'Ivoire forward line that reached the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, and will be hoping to get his campaign off to a bang at the World Cup against 2018 champions France. Bursting with talent, Diomande has the world at his feet.
Lennart Karl - Germany
Still only 18, the Bayern tyro has gone from academy prospect to legitimate Germany World Cup option in the space of a single season.
Karl finished his maiden Bundesliga campaign with five goals and five assists in 26 appearances for Bayern, in addition to four goals and two assists in eight UEFA Champions League outings. Such performances also earned the starlet his first two senior caps for Germany, coming off the bench twice in friendly victories over Switzerland and Ghana respectively back in March.
While a place in Julian Nagelsmann's starting XI isn't guaranteed, he is certainly in the conversation to start Germany's first game against Curaçao.
Luka Vušković - Croatia
Despite being just 19, the Croatian has been one of the Bundesliga's outstanding defenders this season, picking up the Rookie Player of the Month award four times during a memorable loan spell with Hamburg.
Alongside impressive defensive stats, he also has an eye for a goal, having bagged six in the league, helping ease HSV's relegation fears in the process.
Named in Croatia's squad for the World Cup, the Tottenham Hotspur loanee is certainly one to watch for the 2018 finalists.
Johan Manzambi - Switzerland
Although Freiburg's Manzambi was on the losing side against Aston Villa in the UEFA Europa League final, the Switzerland midfielder had plenty to write home about in 2025/26.
The 20-year-old is in fine form heading into this summer's World Cup, having registered 10 goal involvements in 27 Bundesliga games, as well as a further six in Europe and the DFB Cup.
Can Uzun – Türkiye
Eintracht Frankfurt's supremely talented midfielder has endured a somewhat mixed campaign. Bookended by a strong start and finish to the Bundesliga season, Uzun's winter was disrupted massively by injury set-backs.
Nevertheless, he bounced back in style with goals against Hamburg and Borussia Dortmund in May, underlining his importance to Frankfurt's attack as he finished the season with eight goals and four assists in 21 Bundesliga appearances. Going in as one of Türkiye's standout attackers, Uzun has the chance to announce himself on the world stage.
Bazoumana Touré - Côte d'Ivoire
Hoffenheim's Touré has developed a reputation for relentless direct running and explosive transitions over the past few 12 months. The 20-year-old's pace, unpredictability and proclivity for crosses - a skill of his which was on full display after providing nine league assists in 2025/26 - make him a joy to watch in full flow.
Touré’s inclusion alongside Diomande means Côte d'Ivoire are bolstered by two of the Bundesliga's most electric young attackers heading into the tournament.
Antonio Nusa - Norway
Few young players in Europe are as dangerous in open space as Nusa. The Leipzig winger has spent the season terrorising Bundesliga defences with his acceleration, direct dribbling and ability to destabilise games almost single-handedly.
With Erling Haaland likely to dominate defensive attention for Norway, Nusa could become the player who benefits most from the space created around him.
What's more, Nusa boasts a surprising amount of experience at international level for a 21-year-old, having made 22 prior senior caps for Norway, netting seven times.
Previous FIFA Young Player Award winners from the Bundesliga
Franz Beckenbauer - 1966
Der Kaiser became the first Bundesliga-based player to win the FIFA Young Player Award in 1966. While his West Germany side would famously lose in the final against hosts England, Beckenbauer's stunning displays that summer cemented his status as one of world football's most exciting talents.
Lukas Podolski - 2006
Some 40 years after Beckenbauer's brilliance, Podolski made a name for himself on home soil. The former Cologne and Bayern forward enjoyed a fine campaign at the 2006 World Cup, where he netted three goals to help Germany reach the semi-finals.
Thomas Müller - 2010
A young German won the FIFA Young Player Award for the second World Cup in a row in 2010. Fresh from a breakout domestic campaign with Bayern, Müller also ended the tournament in South Africa as the top goalscorer - with five from six matches.
