Ghanaian duo Kamaldeen Sulemana and Mohammed Kudus have been dropped from the 40-man shortlist for the Golden Boy Award race.
The pair were part of the 60-man shortlist following their exceptional performances for their clubs last season.
Sulemana netted 10 goals for FC Nordsjaelland before moving to Stade Rennais in the summer transfer window. He netted on his Ligue 1 debut for the club.
Mohammed Kudus is yet to make an appearance for Ajax Amsterdam this season after picking an injury during pre-season.
Meanwhile, Ghanaian pair Brian Brobbey and Myron Boadu are in contention for the award.
Other players who make the list are PSV’s Noni Madueke, Pedri (FC Barcelona), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Mason Greenwood (Manchester United).
Erling Haaland won the award last year and is out of the race for the accolade.
Italian tabloid, Tuttosport will reduce the names to 20 next month before the winner is announced in November.