The Golden Boy is presented to the most promising young footballer in Europe each calendar year – but which famous names have won the esteemed prize?
The player must be under the age of 21 to be nominated. Established in 2003 by the Italian outlet , the award is decided by a vote among sports journalists.
The latest recipient of the Golden Boy Award was Jude Bellingham, who beat Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala to win the 2023 edition – doing so by grabbing a massive 97% of the vote.
GOAL takes a look at the winners of this prestigious individual prize over the years.
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Rafael van der Vaart | Ajax & Netherlands
AdvertisementGetty 2004
Wayne Rooney | Manchester United & England
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Lionel Messi | Barcelona & Argentina
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Cesc Fabregas | Arsenal & Spain