Bayer Leverkusen's Francis Onyeka named U19 Fritz Walter gold medal winner
The German Football Association (DFB) has awarded Bayer Leverkusen’s Francis Onyeka the prestigious 2026 Fritz Walter Gold medal in the U19s category.
Having spent 2025/26 on loan at Bundesliga 2 side Bochum, Onyeka - currently on loan Elversberg, playing in Germany’s top flight for the first time - beat Hertha Berlin’s Boris Mamuzah Lum and Werder Bremen’s Mick Schmetgens to the annual prize which recognises Germany's brightest football talents and their willingness to learn, as well as team spirit and character.
Receiving the gold award for the 2009 age group was Leverkusen’s Kennet Eichhorn, who secured a move to the Bundesliga side after impressing for Hertha in 2025/26.
"The gold medals for Kennet and Francis are fantastic personal accolades," claimed Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes. "You can’t get any better than this in youth football in Germany. They’ve made their mark at a very early stage in professional football and have absolutely earned it."
Watch: The best of Kennet Eichhorn
Silver went to Bayern Munich’s Cassiano Kiala, while Hamburg prodigy Louis Lemke claimed bronze.
In the women’s 2007 category, Freiburg midfielder Maj Schneider secured gold ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Janne Krumme and Bremen's Felicia Sträßer, and in the 2009 age group, RB Leipzig’s Mirja Kropp finished ahead of Freiburg’s Johanna Hebben and teammate Marie Kleemann.
Full list of 2026 Fritz Walter Medal winners
U19 male, born in 2007:
GOLD: Francis Onyeka (Elversberg)
SILVER: Boris Mamuzah Lum (Hertha Berlin)
BRONZE: Mick Schmetgens (Werder Bremen)
U19 female, born 2007:
GOLD: Maj Schneider (Freiburg)
SILVER: Janne Krumme (Eintracht Frankfurt)
BRONZE: Felicia Sträßer (Werder Bremen)
U17 male, born in 2009:
GOLD: Kennet Eichhorn (Bayer everkusen)
SILVER: Cassiano Kiala (Bayern Munich)
BRONZE: Louis Lemke (Hamburg)
U19 female, born 2009:
GOLD: Mirja Kropp (RB Leipzig)
SILVER: Johanna Hebben (Freiburg)
BRONZE: Marie Kleemann (RB Leipzig)
