Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi has been put on the shortlist for the 2016 Golden Boy Award.
The award is given to the best young player in the world, and has previously been won by the likes of Paul Pogba, Lionel Messi and Isco, but it is worth noting that six of the 13 winners of the award have been based in England.
Wayne Rooney, Anderson and Anthony Martial have all won it whilst with Manchester United, Raheem Sterling won for his Liverpool role previously, and Mario Balotelli also picked up the award when he was impressing for Manchester City back in 2010.
Cesc Fabregas is our only winner of the competition back in 2006, and there is a slim chance we could pick up our second winner exactly 10 years later.
Alex Iwobi has become a first-team regular for us since February, after scoring in an incredible full debut against Premier League rivals Everton.
The Nigerian is unlikely to be among the favourites however, with other more high profile candidates likely to be voted for.
Last year’s winner was the highest young signing of the summer, with Martial arriving at Old Trafford in a deal worth over £50 Million, and on that theory, this year’s winner could be between Man City’s £37 Million purchase Leroy Sane or Bayern Munich’s £27.5 Million signing Renato Sanches.
Full Golden Boy 2016 nominee list:
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal)
Andreas Christensen (Chelsea on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach)
Nathan (Chelsea on loan with Vitesse Arnhem)
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Demerai Gray (Leicester City)
Marko Grujic (Liverpool)
Kelechi Iheanacho (Man City)
Leroy Sane (Man City)
Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
Dele Alli (Spurs)
Moussa Dembele (Celtic)
Asensio Marco Willemsen (Real Madrid)
Leon Bailey (Racing Genk)
Bazoer Riechedly (Ajax)
Boschilia Gabriel (Monaco)
Brandt Julian (Bayer Leverkusen)
Carlos Fernández Luna (Sevilla)
Coman Kingsly (Bayern Munich)
Coric Ante (Dinamo Zagreb)
Diawara Amadou (Napoli)
Dahoud Mahmoud (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Danilo Barbosa da Silva (Benfica)
Dembélé Ousmane (Borussia Dortmund)
Donnarumma Gianluigi (AC Milan)
Embolo Breel-Donald (Schalke 04)
Gabriel Barbosa Almeida (Internazionale)
Golovin Aleksandr Sergeevic (CSKA Moscow)
Gonçalo Manuel Ganchininho Guedes (Benfica)
Halilovic Alen (Hamburger SV)
Kovalenko Viktor (Shakhtar Donetsk)
Hernández Lucas (Atletico Madrid)
Mammana Emanuel (Olympique Lyonnais)
Ntcham Jules Olivier (Genoa)
Renato Júnior Luz Sanches (Bayern Munich)
Riedewald Jairo (Ajax)
Rúben Diogo da Silva Neves (Porto)
Sanabria Arnaldo Antonio Ayala (Real Betis)
Tah Jonathan Glao (Bayer Leverkusen)
Tielemans Youri (Anderlecht)
Touré Almamy (Monaco)
How high do you think Iwobi will rank? Who is the best among the list?
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Pat J
I don’t see him winning.
Iheanacho or Sanches are more likely winners.
OT:
Recently, anytime you open B B C. C O M, you’ll see news on how Wenger’s a perfect manager, excellent guy…etc. All these are being said by pundits who have previously crucified Wenger. Bll the praise is because they want him to become England Manager. Wenger has become rare gold overnight.
The boy has been a Gunner for over a decade. So proud that he is home grown, and not bought (for £50 million…)
Whether he wins or not, but especially if he wins, I hope that he takes a page out of Bellerin’s book and remains focused and humble despite all the hype. He could be a great one day.
I did not know that Martial won it last year, but can someone tell me what Martial did in 2015 to be worthy a winner? He joined Man United with 11 goals from more than 50 appearances. He scored like 4 goals for Man United in the whole of 2015, from countless appearances. This looks more like an award for hype than performance. Most likely Ali will be in the top five because of performances in 2015. If they only focus on 2016, Iwobi should be up there.
I do not seem to see Coman though who to me was exceptional.
For me, one name stands out and that’s Donnarumma, hands down. Maybe Coman as well. Alli has so far been a one season wonder.
Others in the list are either:
A) Big money signings with little to show for
B) Fine players who are not starters (Iheanacho etc.)
C) Just nobodies who are on the list as fillers
Iwobi is not any of those. He’s a starters, got stats to back him up.
However as I said, out of all Donnarumma has been a stand out. The lad became 1st choice for Milan 16. And has been a starter ever since.
I agree with you.
Iwobi doesn’t have a price tag as he was not bought.
In this our football world now, price tag is publicity.
we missed a trick with Dembélé Ousmane
Where’s Sanchez? :/
most times the golden boy award is a popularity contest and I won’t be surprised if Rashford wins it.
but based on merit it has to be Renato Sanches,Donnarumma or Coman