Top 6 contenders that can win the Golden Boy Award

Here are the top six contenders that can win the Golden Boy Award

The 40-player shortlist for the Golden Boy Award for 2020 has been announced, and once again there’s a whole host of young guns in the reckoning. The highly coveted accolade is given by the Italian publication Tuttosport every year for the best player under the age of 21, plying his trade in one of Europe’s premier leagues.

Lionel Messi (2005), Wayne Rooney (2004), Sergio Aguero (2007), and even Rafael van der Vaart, who won the first-ever edition in 2003, are some of the illustrious winners in the past. Whereas the latest claimant to the title is Joao Felix, who won the award in 2019 for his stellar breakout year with Benfica.

Who’ll succeed the Portuguese starlet and claim the award this year? Here are the top six favorites:

Honorable Mentions: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Sandro Tonali (AC Milan), and Rodrygo Goes (Real Madrid).

#6 Ansu Fati (Barcelona)

To make a strong case for yourself despite playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, etc. is no mean feat. But Fati did exactly that and caught everyone’s imagination with a phenomenal debut campaign for the Azulgranas.

Only 16 when he made his senior debut, the Spaniard became Barcelona’s youngest-ever scorer after his strike against Osasuna last August. He did this before also becoming the youngest-ever scorer in Champions League history by netting against Inter Milan in December.

Fati’s confidence on the ball and accurate finishing thoroughly belie his age, while his tally of seven league goals in a debut season even trumps that of Messi! He received his first call-ups with Spain during the recent international break and even scored on his debut. Easily making him the youngest scorer in the national team’s history at 17 years and 357 days.

It’s been a whirlwind start to his senior career with both club and country and on this evidence, can reach lofty heights in the future. Winning the Golden Boy award will only serve to cement the theory further.

#5 Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)

The Red Devils had another mixed bag of a campaign last time but nevertheless managed to finish third in the league. One of the important factors behind it was Mason Greenwood.

With 17 goals in all competitions in his first full year with the senior side, the teenager left a lasting impression. His sense of positioning, set-piece ability, and finishing skills have even drawn him comparisons to club great Robin van Persie.

Greenwood, an academy graduate, has managed such impressive numbers despite operating from multiple positions. This was following a slow start, thrived alongside the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Martial.

His performances didn’t go unnoticed by Gareth Southgate, who handed the 18-year old his first senior cap with England in the recent UEFA Nations League fixture against Iceland. He aims to make a mark with the national side too.