Three blaugranes in contention for Golden Boy Award
Once again Lamine Yamal is having an impact on the world of football. The young talent from La Masia is now amongst the top 100 ranked players under the age of 21 as listed by the Italian media outlet Tuttosport using Football Benchmark Statistics.
The Golden Boy award has been around since 2003 and is presented to the best under 21 player in Europe. The current holder is none other than Gavi and his team mate Pedri also won the award in 2021. Furthermore, Barça have recently acquired another Golden Boy winner with new signing João Félix taking the prize in 2019.
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Tuttosport, the organisers of the award, will eventually whittle down the list to 40 candidates then 20. A jury of journalists from all over the continent will then decide the winner. There is also the 'Golden Boy Web' award which is decided via votes from the general public.
Gavi and Balde in the top 10
In the current top 100 ranking, the highest placed Barça player is last year's winner Gavi. The midfielder who made his 100th appearance for the blaugranes in last weekend's win at Osasuna is currently in fourth place in the table.
Just behind Gavi in sixth place is Alejandro Balde, the 19 year old Barça left back who has established himself as first choice in Xavi Hernández's team due to his pace, quality and attacking threat down the flank.
Lamine Yamal, 89th
Lamine Yamal, after becoming the youngest player ever to play for Barça in the league, is in 89th place in the current ranking for the Golden Boy award. After just five appearances for the blaugranes, the young forward has already caught the attention of the footballing public around Europe and the world with his pace, dribbling and his daring in his performance so far in a Barça shirt.
Last two winners from Barça
Should a blaugrana claim the award it would be three in a row for FC Barcelona. In 2021 it was Pedri who took the prize and last season Gavi was crowned Golden Boy ahead of his team mates Pedri, Ansu Fati and Nico González. In 2019 as an Atlético Madrid player, new boy João Félix was also chosen as the best U21 player in Europe.
Further back in the past there have been other former Barça player who were winners of the award: Leo Messi in 2005, Cesc Fàbregas in 2006 and Sergio Agüero in 2007.