GOLDEN BOY
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham wins 2023 Golden Boy award
The Real Madrid player has won the award for best under-21 player in Europe.
Jude Bellingham is officially the Golden Boy for 2023. The award went to the England international, thanks to his exceptional performances this year, and on Friday Italian outlet Tuttosport announced the news during a press conference that took place in the Sala Trasparenza in Turin, Italy.
The Real Madrid player (he is the club’s first to win it) joins a list of stars to have picked up the award, including Leo Messi, Cesc Fábregas, Sergio Agüero, Kylian Mbappé, Joao Félix, Erling Haaland, Pedri and Gavi. He is the third Englishman to win it after Wayne Rooney (2004) and Raheem Sterling (2014).
What is the Golden Boy award?
The Golden Boy award is presented to the best footballer in Europe under the age of 21 and was created by Tuttosport in 2003, with journalists voting for the winner.
Outstanding 2023 for Bellingham
The gala awards ceremony will take place on 4 December at the Officine Grandi Riparazioni in Turin, when Bellingham - the new Golden Boy of Europe - will collect his award after an outstanding 2023 with England, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.
Since joining Madrid from Dortmund in the summer, the 20-year-old has scored 14 goals in his first 17 games for the club.
Kopa Trophy winner
Bellingham collected the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards last month, where he was recognised as the best under-21 player in world football.
Golden Girl award
Colombia and Real Madrid player Linda Caicedo (18) won the Golden Girl award.