Published Jun 8, 5:31am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 8, 5:31am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 8, 5:31am ET
There are just days to go before the 2026 World Cup gets underway in Mexico. The world’s best players will be in action this summer, while the tournament is also revered for being a platform for young stars to make their breakthrough at the highest level.
Therefore, there will be interesting contenders in the odds to win the World Cup Best Young Player Award in 2026. You can find the odds and our pick here.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal (Spain) | +150 |
| Desire Doue (France) | +250 |
| Warren Zaire Emery (France) | +550 |
| Nico O’Reilly (England) | +1000 |
| Arda Guler (Turkey) | +1400 |
| Pau Cubarsi (Spain) | +1400 |
| Endrick (Brazil) | +1800 |
| Other Selections | +2000 & Bigger |
ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026 Outright Winner Odds, Preview, and Picks
Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal heads the betting to win the Best Young Player award. The 18-year-old enjoyed a coming-of-age summer at the EUROs two years ago, and his game elevated to a new level in La Liga last term after registering 27 goal involvements in 28 appearances for Barcelona.
However, Yamal could be a vulnerable selection at the top of the betting this summer, as he heads into the World Cup with fitness concerns.
France’s stacked selection of attacking options this summer also includes younger names that could be primed to make an impact. Desire Doue is among those.
The 21-year-old has scored in the last two Champions League finals, and his attacking output on the biggest stages is eye-catching after registering nine goal involvements in 13 appearances in the Champions League this season. However, with so much attacking talent, Doue may be restricted to minutes from the bench this summer.
Arda Guler is widely considered to be one of the best young stars in world soccer.
The Turkish playmaker emerged on the global stage at EURO 2024, and his confidence should be high after enjoying a breakout season with Real Madrid in 2025-26. Guler scored four goals and registered nine assists in 33 La Liga appearances. His record at international level is very impressive, as he has scored six goals in 30 appearances.
Nico O’Reilly could be an interesting selection at the prices, given that he is a guaranteed starter for England this summer.
The 21-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign with Manchester City, scoring twice in the EFL Cup win over Arsenal. O’Reilly’s defensive quality will be key to England’s chances in the tournament, and he registered nine goal involvements in 34 Premier League appearances.
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Pick
Nico O'Reilly (+1000)
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New Player Bonus
50% up to $1000
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