The Golden Boy is an award established by Tuttosport that is given by sports journalists to a young male footballer playing in Europe perceived to have been the most impressive during a calendar year. All nominees must be under the age of 21 and play in a European nation's top tier. The 2023 edition was won by Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham. Apart from the main award, an additional one, Golden Boy Web, is decided by online users.
Englishman Jude Bellingham won the award in 2023.
Rafael van der Vaart, the inaugural award winner
Jude Victor William Bellingham is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid and the England national team. Considered one of the best players in the world, he is known for his technical abilities, vision and finishing. In 2023, he won both major awards for male footballers aged under 21: the Golden Boy, for nominees playing in Europe over the last calendar year, and the Kopa Trophy, for the world's best over the previous season.
Bellingham with 2024 Laureus Breakthrough Award
Bellingham with Birmingham City in 2019
Bellingham playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2020
Playing for England at the 2022 FIFA World Cup