Real Madrid England international Jude Bellingham, 20, was named ‘Golden Boy’, Tuttosport’s annual award that recognizes the greatest talent among footballers under the age of 21.
Bellingham was elected with 485 points out of a maximum of 500, in a vote in which he received 97% of the vote, the same percentage as Kylian Mbappé, when he received the same award in 2017.but with only 30 journalists voting, 20 fewer than currently.
“So, Jude Bellingham, with thirteen goals in thirteen games for the Whites, is the king of kings at Golden Boy. Stratospheric galactic. Verstappen among the most talented young people under 21,” writes the Italian newspaper.
The English footballer succeeds two players from FC Barcelona in the Golden Boy award, the Spaniards Pedri and Gavi, the first the most voted in 2021 and the second last year, after Haaland, chosen in 2000.
Portugal has two footballers in the gallery of these greatest talents: Renato Sanches, elected in 2016, and João Félix, in 2019.
António Silva and João Neves, both from Benfica, were on the list of candidates for this year’s award, as was Ivorian Diomandé, a Sporting defender.
In the same category as Bellingham, but in the women’s categories, Colombian Linda Caicedo, also from Real Madrid, received the most votes for ‘Golden Girl’, award granted only to women since 2018 and in the first editions to Italian footballers.
Tuttosport also presented prizes to the best footballers over 21 years old, both men and women, with Haaland (Manchester City) and Aitana Bonmati (FC Barcelona), recently elected Ballon d’Or, receiving the most votes.
In another category, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) was named ‘Youngest Golden Boy’ and Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta) as Italy’s greatest talent under 21.
Source: DN
