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Over the years, the Golden Boy award has gone to some incredible talents, definitely having lived up to their expectations, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Mario Gotze all having won the prestigious award.
In recent years, amazing youngster like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and last year’s winner Jude Bellingham have all been added to the list of Golden Boys, not looking likely to fall short of any expectations any time soon.
The award is given to Europe’s most exciting Under-21 talent, measured across the calendar year, all based on an algorithm which looks at performance and minutes played.
Since it’s inception and it’s first winner, Rafael van der Vaart in 2003, Manchester United players have managed to secure the trophy on three occasions, by Wayne Rooney, Anderson and recent departure from the club, Anthony Martial.
This year, United may have the chance of seeing one of their graduates become the fourth Red Devil to receive the award.
Manchester Evening News have reported that both of the FA Cup Final goal scorers, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have been nominated for the award, featuring in the top 10 initial shortlist.
After breaking into the first squad this season, both lads have had a brilliant set of performances, doing enough to secure third place for Garnacho and Mainoo’s seventh place.
The initial shortlist will be whittled down in October ready for the awarding ceremony in November, however at this time, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is favourite to win.
Massimo Franchi, the founder of the Golden Boy award has said: “The rankings are based on performances in the biggest games. We have seen both Mainoo and [Adam] Wharton, very impressive and potentially in England’s squad for the Euros. Maybe they can do what Bellingham did last year.”
With these comments about big games, it appears as though their FA Cup winning performances certainly helped to seal their slots in this year’s shortlist.
