Matteo Gunedouzi is up for an award with multiple world-class winners
Matteo Guendouzi is one of 20 U21 players nominated for the Golden Boy Award and he is in illustrious company.
Any award that has Lionel Messi as a previous winner is certainly one that most players would like to add to their collection.
The award, which was established in 2003 by Tuttosport, includes journalists from Bild (Germany), Blick (Switzerland), A Bola (Portugal), l’Équipe (France), France Football (France), Marca (Spain), Mundo Deportivo (Spain), Ta Nea (Greece), Sport Express (Russia), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), and The Times (United Kingdom).
The award is given by sports journalists to players under the age of 21 that have impressed in a calendar year from one of the top leagues in Europe.
Previous winners
2003 Rafael van der Vaart
2004 Wayne Rooney
2005 Lionel Messi
2006 Cesc Fàbregas
2007 Sergio Agüero
2008 Anderson
2009 Alexandre Pato
2010 Mario Balotelli
2011 Mario Götze
2012 Isco
2013 Paul Pogba
2014 Raheem Sterling
2015 Anthony Martial
2016 Renato Sanches
2017 Kylian Mbappé
2018 Matthijs de Ligt
That list is full of world-class players, however, it has to be admitted there are a couple of donkeys in there.
That said, a list that includes Messi, Pato, Sterling, Rooney, Aguero and Mbape is definitely a prestigious award. Gunedouzi will enhance his reputation massively if he emerges the winner and he is certainly in with a chance.
I start to question the credibility of the organizers of this award when I saw the name of Ansu Fati. How can someone whose name wasn’t in the top 40 now get into the top 20? The mystery behind that still baffles me. I expected to see someone like Samuel Chukwueze who has been a top performer for Villarreal for over some time now and made the top 40 to be in the top 20 but lo and behold, someone who wasn’t in the top 40 list miraculously made the top 20.
Slightly off topic but I find it very strange that a bigger, perhaps higher profile club has not snapped up Chukwueze, he’s brilliant. I think he’s far better than both Zaha and Pepé and would cost half the price.
these awards cater to the two Spanish giants. Fati is the U20 player that has produced any sort of hype in ages between the two of those clubs.
LDDWWWDWW..
I would be super excited if Gunedouzi comes out the winner. I believe in him.
Unfortunately I think Sancho will be the eventual winner.
I think it’s a bit strong to say “there are a couple of donkeys in there” and would be interested to know who they are, obviously in your opinion?
I don’t think it will be long before you start seeing the big clubs sniffing around. He has a release a release clause of 65million euros. He’s agent said there’s a new offer on the table that’s being considered which will also see the release clause increased again to about a 100million
I don’t think it will be long before you start seeing the big clubs sniffing around. He has a release a release clause of 65million euros. He’s agent said there’s a new offer on the table that’s being considered which will also see the release clause increased again to about a 100million
FIFA are cheats and racists.
Samuel Chukwueze is better than over half the players on that list including Mount and Kean.
2nd full season in Villarreal’s first team
Most skillful starlet in La Liga, Scored more goals and made more assists than the Ronaldo wannabe in Madrid.
Destroyed Barca and Madrid last season
Won the u17 world cup years ago as the second best player of the tournament
African cup of Nations bronze winner
FIFA is Scam!!!
it’s not FIFA who are the organizers, it’s tuttosports. and yes the organizers are frauds.
Any competition, which decides the winner by a public vote, favours players from high population countries.