Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham has won the prestigious Golden Boy award for 2023.
The Golden Boy award, which has been presented by Italian outlet Tuttosport since 2003, recognises the best player playing in Europe under the age of 21 each year.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi ranks among the previous victors, scooping the prize in 2005, while Manchester United great Wayne Rooney won it one year earlier. Barcelona midfielder Gavi collected the trophy last year.
Bellingham’s triumph follows his stunning start to life in Spain and comes just over two weeks after he won the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, also finishing 18th in the voting for the main prize.
Bellingham has managed a remarkable total of 16 goal involvements (13 goals, three assists) in just 14 appearances for Madrid across all competitions since arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund in June.
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???? Winner of the 2023 #GoldenBoy award! pic.twitter.com/TAxXmGpJfw— Real Madrid C.F. ???????????????? (@realmadriden) November 17, 2023
He has also starred on the international stage this campaign, recording a goal and an assist as England dismantled Scotland in a Hampden Park friendly in September before producing a man-of-the-match display as the Three Lions sealed Euro 2024 qualification by beating Italy 3-1 in October.
Bellingham was forced to withdraw from the England squad for their upcoming fixtures against Malta and North Macedonia this week after suffering a shoulder injury, though Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti is hopeful he will return after the international break.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will join Bellingham in collecting silverware, having won Tuttosport’s senior prize, the Golden Player Man award, after firing his club to the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble last season.
Haaland – who won the Golden Boy trophy back in 2020 – scored 52 goals in 53 games throughout his debut campaign with City in 2022-23, setting a new record for goals in a single Premier League season with 36.
ERLING HALAAND is the Golden Player Man 2023! #Goldenboy #Goldenboy2023 #football pic.twitter.com/sjoUU7GeAl
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) November 17, 2023
