Without any surprises, Dortmund’s young Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has won the 2020 Golden Boy award. The lanky forward with an appetite for goals has been in irresistible form in the past two seasons for both Red Bull Saizburg and Borussia Dortmund, scoring almost a goal per game.
The Golden Boy award is a recognition awarded to the most impressive under-21 footballer of the calendar year, which is made up of two halves of two consecutive seasons. One of the prerequisites is that the youngster must be playing in the top tier leagues of any European nations. The award started in 2003, and the player nominations have been participated by various established sport journalists.
Some glaring players who have missed out the Golden Boy awards are Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Eden Hazard, who themselves began as highly rated wonderkids at the start of their careers. On the other hand, not all the golden boys will turn into great players. A number of them simply did not live up to their potentials or expectations.
2003 – Rafael van der Vaart (Ajax)
The gifted Dutch midfielder was the first ever Golden Boy. He rose to prominence during his times at Ajax, before going on to play in Germany, Spain, England and Denmark. Retired in 2018, Rafael van der Vaart has also gained more than 100 caps for the Netherlands.
2004 – Wayne Rooney (Everton/Manchester United)
Burst into the football scene as England’s highest profiled wonderkid in the early 2000s, Wayne Rooney was transferred from Everton to Manchester United in 2004, and the rest is history. He went on to become the all-time top scorer for the Red Devils and England.
2005 – Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Lionel Messi debuted for Barcelona in 2004, and the world was about to witness the spectacular transformation of a wonderkid to a superstar. 16 years later, there is little doubt that the Argentine has firmly cemented his legacy in football history.
2006 – Cesc Fàbregas (Arsenal)
After joining Arsenal in 2003, Cesc Fàbregas established himself as the starting midfielder and creator for the team at the age of 19. The Spaniard has a glaring football career, winning league titles with Barcelona and Chelsea, and also the World Cup and European Championships with Spain.
2007 – Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid)
Sergio Agüero moved from his native Argentina to Atlético Madrid in 2006 and quickly became one of the best young strikers in the world. After playing for Manchester City for nine seasons, the Argentine had his name printed in the record books by becoming the club’s all-time goal scorer.
2008 – Anderson (Manchester United)
Anderson was a highly-rated youngster signed by Manchester United in 2007. The Brazilian midfielder won multiple league titles and a Champions League with the club, but his performances were never convincing enough to win him credits. Anderson retired from football in 2019.
2009 – Alexandre Pato (AC Milan)
A young Alexandre Pato shone for AC Milan in the late 2000s. But he faded away in the later part of his career due to injuries and a lack of self discipline. After which Pato went on to become a journeyman in football, playing in England, Spain, China and his native Brazil.
2010 – Mario Balotelli (Inter Milan/Manchester City)
An undoubted talent, Mario Balotelli would have achieved more if not for his attitude and disciplinary records. The free scoring Italian striker had several bust ups with his managers, and his reputation and demands meant that he could not stay at any club for too long.
2011 – Mario Götze (Dortmund)
Dortmund’s Mario Götze burst into football scene as a wonderkid. At age 22, he had the world at his feet, winning the World Cup with Germany. But his career seemed to decline since then. After spells at Bayern Munich and Dortmund, Götze looks to rebuild his career at PSV.
2012 – Isco (Málaga)
Talented playmaker Isco shone at Málaga and was soon snapped up by Real Madrid. A successful seven seasons with the Spanish giant saw him win 16 major trophies, but the 28-year-old’s recent years have been plagued by a loss of form, which may derail his career in Spain.
2013 – Paul Pogba (Juventus)
At Juventus, Paul Pogba rose to become one of the world’s best young players. Manchester United signed him back in 2016, breaking the world transfer record at £89 million. The dominant midfielder went on to win the World Cup with France two years later.
2014 – Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling was one of the most exciting youngsters in England. In 2015, after a contract dispute, Manchester City seized the chance and bought him for almost £50 million. The flying winger has since repaid the faith by helping the club to win two Premier League titles.
2015 – Anthony Martial (Monaco/Manchester United)
Young French forward Anthony Martial was snapped up by Manchester United in 2015 for £36 million. It was then the record fee for a teenager. Martial did not disappoint by scoring a respectable 51 goals in 150 league games; a return of one goal per three matches.
2016 – Renato Sanches (Benfica/Bayern Munich)
Renato Sanches caught the world’s attention after his impressive performances at Benfica. Bayern Munich signed him in 2016, but Sanches struggled to make it to the first team due to Bayern’s stacked midfield. In 2019, Sanches decided to leave to relaunch his career with Lille.
2017 – Kylian Mbappé (Monaco/Paris Saint-Germain)
Kylian Mbappé is certainly the biggest football story in recent years. The explosive French forward has won multiple league titles and the prestigious World Cup, all before turning 21. The prized Ballon d’Or shall be within reach if he keeps up his impressive goalscoring form.
2018 – Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)
Matthijs de Ligt emerged as a young outstanding centre back at Ajax. He was the first defenders to win the Golden Boy award. After signing for Juventus in 2019, the 21-year-old de Ligt is expected to become one of the best defenders in the world.
2019 – João Félix (Benfica/Atlético Madrid)
João Félix is already having a impressive career with Atlético Madrid and Portugal. When he was at Benfica, he was the youngest player to score a hattrick in a Europa League match. For Portugal, Félix is expected to fill the boots of Cristiano Ronaldo in the future.
26.11.2020
Best 100 Footballers in the World 