Atletico Madrid's talented 20-year-old João Félix scooped the prestigious award yesterday, adding his name to an esteemed list.
This decade’s #GoldenBoy winners ☄️
— Futaa.com (@Futaacom) November 27, 2019
2019 - 🇵🇹 João Félix
2018 - 🇳🇱 Matthijs de Ligt
2017 - 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé
2016 - 🇵🇹 Renato Sanches
2015 - 🇫🇷 Anthony Martial
2014 - 🏴 Raheem Sterling
2013 - 🇫🇷 Paul Pogba
2012 - 🇪🇸 Isco
2011 - 🇩🇪 Mario Götze
2010 - 🇮🇹 Mario Balotelli pic.twitter.com/bItSfRKrhZ
The Golden Boy award recognises the best player on the planet under the age of 21 for a calendar year. Félix beat out some pretty stiff competition for the award, including the likes of Jadon Sancho. The winners this decade have represented a variety of nations, with most of them going on to achieve great things in the beautiful game.
The award was inaugurated in 2003 with Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart collecting the prize in its first year. Here are all of the Golden Boy winners since then:
🥇 Golden Boy honours list
- 2003: 🇳🇱 Rafael van der Vaart
- 2004: 🏴 Wayne Rooney
- 2005: 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
- 2006: 🇪🇸 Cesc Fàbregas
- 2007: 🇦🇷 Sergio Agüero
- 2008: 🇧🇷 Anderson
- 2009: 🇧🇷 Alex 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
- 2019: 🇵🇹 João Félix
Felix's Atlético Madrid side is in action this Sunday at home to LaLiga champions Barcelona.
Follow Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona live on Futaa!