Pulisic, Upamecano and more: Meet the Bundesliga's 5 Golden Boy nominations for 2018

The list of nominees for the Golden Boy award, which crowns the best player under 21 years of age in the elite of world football, hosts five talented youngsters who ply their trade in Germany.

Which starlets are up for the award previously won by Borussia Dortmund’s Mario Götze in 2011 and Bayern Munich’s Renato Sanches in 2016? bundesliga.com has the scoop.

With five individual players from three different clubs in the running for this prestigious award, the depth of talent on display every weekend in the Bundesliga is clear for everyone to see.

Bundesliga scouting departments are worthy of praise looking at the list of 2018 Golden Boy nominees. American sensation Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) is joined by other foreign talents to have found a home in Germany, such as France’s Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig), Argentina’s Marcelo Saracchi, Croatia’s Josip Brekalo and Dortmund loan star Achraf Hakimi.

Meet the Bundesliga nominees for the 2018 Golden Boy

Christian Pulisic, Borussia Dortmund

Age: 20
Position: Attacking midfielder

One of the biggest talents in world football, let alone prospects. Pulisic is the United States’ new soccer superstar and he has turned himself into a household name already follwoing his time with Dortmund. At just 20, Pulisic has already made his 100th appearance for Dortmund, with 74 to his name in the Bundesliga, with 10 goals and 15 assists to boast. Pulisic has the versatility to play across the pitch behind a striker, with his pace, quick dribbling and agility the attributes that have made him one of the Bundesliga’s best players. Long may it continue!

Watch: Dortmund’s wonderkid, Christian Pulisic

Dayot Upamecano, RB Leipzig

Age: 19
Position: Centre-back

Dayot Upamecano looks like the future of Leipzig, and indeed France’s, defence. A footballing monster, the 19-year-old has enormous pace and power for his size and build. Accomplished on the ball, Upamceano is also an initiator of Leipzig attacks from the back. His 45 Bundesliga appearances, of which 28 came in 2017/18, show how vital he has already become to RBL’s team, and that looks unlikely to change.

Dayot Upamecano’s beastly performances have seen him rise to become one of the Bundesliga’s best defenders. © DFL DEUTSCHE FUSSBALL LIGA / Lukas Schulze/DFL via Getty Images

Josip Brekalo, Wolfsburg

Age: 20
Position: Winger

After impressing on loan with VfB Stuttgart last season, Brekalo was quickly recalled during the winter break to parent club Wolfsburg and he hasn’t looked back. Brewed in the famous Dinamo Zagreb academy, Brekalo is a 66-time Croatian youth international. Using his lightning-fast pace to cut in from the flanks, the only issue with his nickname of ‘the Croatian Arjen Robben’ is that he’s right-footed. His four goals and three assists as a Bundesliga player are sure to improve rapidly in an improving Wolfsburg side.

Josip Brekalo has proven to be a tough nut to crack for Bundesliga defences in his career so far. © imago / Jan Huebner

Marcelo Saracchi, RB Leipzig

Age: 20
Position: Left-back

Signed this summer from Argentine giants River Plate, Saracchi has been a sensation at the Red Bull Arena. Taking advantage of the injured Marcel Halstenberg’s absence, the Uruguyan has played in five of Leipzig’s six games so far this season, playing the full 90 minutes on four occasions. The strongest string in Saracchi’s bow is his versatility and ability to play both as a defense-minded, and attack-minded full-back. Although yet to register an assist in a Leipzig shirt, Saracchi’s marauding runs down Leipzig’s left are impossible to miss, and will produce results in the near future.

Marcelo Saracchi has proven that opposition defenders and attackers alike should stay out of his way. © imago / Karina Hessland

Achraf Hakimi, Borussia Dortmund

Age: 19
Position: Right-back

Following in the footsteps of former Bayer Leverkusen defender Dani Carvajal, Moroccan international Hakimi has joined Dortmund for the 2018/19 season on loan from Real Madrid. After sitting on the bench for Dortmund’s first four games of the season, Hakimi has started his last two matches, and produced a goal and assist as Dortmund’s spectacular start to the season has continued. His impressive World Cup performances have certainly continued into his debut Bundesliga season, and don’t be surprised if you see the number five shirt ahead of Lukasz Piszczek more often this campaign.