FC Barcelona leads in Golden Boy 2022 candidates
FC Barcelona has more candidates for the 2022 Golden Boy award than any other club, after all of Pedri Gónzalez, Ansu Fati, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Nico González (the latter recently loaned to Valencia for the new season, but on a renewed Barça contract until 2026) were named on the shortlist of the world's most talented players aged under 21.
Golden Boy 2021 in contention again
Pedro González (Pedri) was the winner 12 months ago, and despite an injury plagued 2021/22, he still did enough to convince Italian sports paper Tuttosport to name him among the candidates for the award this year too.
La Masia everywhere to be seen
Ansu Fati is also back after coming second in Golden Boy 2020, only topped in that edition by Erling Braut Haaland, now of Manchester City.
The ‘Made in La Masia’ list is completed by Gavi, who is very much among the favourites to collect the ultimate prize, Alejandro Balde, and Nico González, all of whom spent at least part of their football upbringing at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, and thus further confirming La Masia's reputation as Europe's football factory.