Désiré Doué - 2025 Golden Boy award winner
4 Nov 2025
20 and 154 days
France
Winger/Attacking Midfielder
Paris Saint-Germain
3 Jun 2005
Paris Saint-Germain
The Frenchman Désiré Doué won the Golden Boy award on November 4, 2025, at the age of 20.
The journey to the top
Doué was born in the French city of Angers in June 2005 and developed his football skills in the youth academy of Stade Rennais. Over the years, it quickly became clear that he was a talent out of the ordinary, and he rose rapidly through the ranks to the first team. After two full senior seasons with Rennes, French giants Paris Saint-Germain signed him in the summer of 2024 for around €50 million. Expectations were enormous, partly because he was seen as the one who could inherit the mantle left by the 2017 Golden Boy winner Kylian Mbappé after his move to Real Madrid.
Although it was not an instant success at his new club, Doué gradually grew into his role during his first season, and it was in the Champions League final on May 31, 2025, against Inter Milan that he truly announced himself to the world. That night, he scored twice and provided one assist, earning the Man of the Match award. His performance not only delivered PSG’s long-awaited first Champions League title, but also cemented Doué’s status as a player ready to perform at the very highest level.
Beyond his club success, Doué also made his debut for the French senior national team on March 23, 2025, when he came on as a substitute in the UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia. So far, he has made four appearances for France without scoring, but it seems only a matter of time before his first international goal arrives.
Why he won the Golden Boy award
He received the prize — awarded to the best player under the age of 21 playing in a European league — for several key reasons:
- Outstanding performances in decisive matches, most notably the final against Inter Milan.
- A crucial role in both league and Champions League campaigns, where his contributions grew from promising to match-defining.
- A playing style that combines technical finesse, determination, and the ability to step up when it matters most.
What’s next for Doué?
Winning the Golden Boy award is a sign of potential — but hardly an end goal for the Frenchman. For Doué, the next challenge is to cement his place as a key player at PSG and take the next step in his international career. Early in the 2025-26 season he has struggled somewhat with recurring injuries, but he also scored twice in PSG’s 7-2 Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Records and notable achievements of Désiré Doué
- In the 2025 Champions League final against Inter Milan — his true breakout performance — he scored twice and provided one assist, making him the youngest player ever to be directly involved in three goals in a Champions League final.
- While playing for Rennes, his goal in the 2-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv on October 6, 2022, made him the youngest French player ever — 17 years, 4 months and 4 days — to score in a European club competition.
- During the 2024-25 season, he was named the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year.
Links related to Désiré Doué
- Désiré Doué on Instagram
- Désiré Doué on X
- Désiré Doué fan site (not his own official site)