Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees 2023 - Best Football Professionals 2023
by Krishika M
Updated Jun 23, 2023
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Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees 2023
The "Golden Boy" award is an annual recognition given to the best young football player in Europe. The award, established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, aims to honor the most outstanding player under the age of 21 playing in European leagues. Here is the list of the top 10 Golden Boy Nominees as of 2023:
1
Jamal Musiala
Germany
2
Jude Bellingham
England
3
Gavi
Spain
4
António Silva
Portugal
5
Alejandro Balde
Spain
6
Xavi Simons
Dutch
7
Florian Wirtz
Germany
8
Benjamin Šeško
Slovenian
9
Devyne Rensch
Dutch
10
Giorgio Scalvini
Italy
S.no.
Nominees
Country
Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees 2023 Ranked
The Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees for 2023 represents a prestigious group of talented young footballers who have made a significant impact in their respective clubs and leagues. These players have showcased exceptional skills, maturity, and promise, garnering attention from fans, pundits, and scouts alike.
The nominees are selected based on their performances, potential, and overall contributions to their teams. They represent a diverse range of positions, including forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers. The Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees demonstrate the future of football, with their ability to influence games, make key contributions, and exhibit great potential for further growth.
The award has a rich history, with previous winners including illustrious names such as Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, among others. Winning the Golden Boy award often serves as a stepping stone for young players to gain recognition, secure lucrative transfers, and establish themselves as top talents in the world of football.
Scroll down and continue reading for more exciting information of the top 10 nominees of this award!
1. Jamal Musiala (Germany)
Jamal Musiala is a professional football player who represents the Germany national team. He was born on February 26, 2003, in Stuttgart, Germany. Musiala primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or forward.
Musiala started his youth career at VfB Stuttgart before joining the Chelsea youth academy in 2011. He quickly progressed through the ranks at Chelsea and made his first-team debut for the club in the English Premier League in March 2019, becoming the youngest-ever player to represent Chelsea in a competitive match at the age of 17 years and 6 days.
In July 2019, Musiala decided to leave Chelsea and join Bayern Munich. He signed a professional contract with the German club and joined their reserve team, Bayern Munich II, who compete in the third tier of German football. He made his debut for the Bayern Munich senior team in June 2020 and became the youngest goal scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League for Bayern Munich at the age of 17 years and 363 days.
Despite being eligible to represent both Germany and England at the international level, Musiala chose to play for Germany, the country of his birth. He made his debut for the German national team in March 2021 in a World Cup qualifying match against Iceland.
Musiala's playing style is characterized by his technical skills, dribbling ability, and vision. He is considered one of the most promising young talents in German football and has already achieved significant success at a young age.
2. Jude Bellingham (England)
Jude Bellingham is a professional football player who represents the England national team. He was born on June 29, 2003, in Stourbridge, England. Bellingham primarily plays as a central midfielder.
Bellingham began his youth career at Birmingham City, where he quickly caught the attention of scouts with his impressive performances. He made his first-team debut for Birmingham City in August 2019 at the age of 16, becoming the youngest-ever first-team player for the club. Throughout the 2019-2020 season, he continued to excel and established himself as a key player in the Birmingham City squad.
In July 2020, Bellingham made a high-profile transfer to Borussia Dortmund, one of the top clubs in Germany. The transfer fee was reported to be one of the highest ever paid for a 17-year-old player. Bellingham immediately made an impact at Dortmund, showcasing his maturity and skill on the pitch. He became the youngest English player to start a UEFA Champions League match, achieving this feat in November 2020.
Bellingham's performances at Dortmund earned him a call-up to the England national team. He made his senior debut for England in November 2020, becoming the third-youngest player ever to represent the national team.
As a midfielder, Bellingham is known for his composure, technical ability, and physical presence. He possesses great passing range, ball control, and a keen sense of positioning. Despite his young age, Bellingham has already displayed a level of maturity and intelligence beyond his years, earning praise from fans and pundits alike.
3. Gavi (Spain)
Gavi, whose full name is Pablo Martín Páez Gavira, is a professional football player from Spain. He was born on September 13, 2004, in Los Palacios, Spain. Gavi primarily plays as a midfielder.
Gavi rose to prominence as a youth player in the academy of FC Barcelona. He caught the attention of scouts with his exceptional technical skills, close ball control, and vision on the pitch. Gavi quickly progressed through the ranks of Barcelona's youth system and made his debut for the senior team in July 2021 during a preseason friendly match.
In August 2021, Gavi signed his first professional contract with Barcelona, committing him to the club until 2026. He made his official competitive debut for the Barcelona first team in August 2021 in a La Liga match against Real Sociedad. Gavi's performances for Barcelona have garnered praise from fans and experts, highlighting his ability to dictate play, his agility, and his maturity on the field despite his young age.
Although he has yet to represent the senior national team, Gavi has been a part of the Spanish national team setup at the youth level. He has represented Spain in various youth tournaments, including the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, where he played a crucial role in helping Spain win the title in 2019.
4. António Silva (Portugal)
António João Pereira de Albuquerque Tavares da Silva, commonly known as António Silva, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Benfica in the Primeira Liga, the top division of Portuguese football. He was born on October 30, 2003.
Silva began his footballing journey in the youth system of Benfica, one of the most renowned clubs in Portugal. He displayed promising performances while playing for Benfica's reserve team. In the 2021-2022 season, Silva played a crucial role in helping Benfica's youth team win the UEFA Youth League, a significant achievement as it was the club's first European trophy in 60 years. His performances earned him recognition and led to his promotion to the Benfica first team.
At the age of 18, Silva made his professional debut for Benfica, showcasing his talent and potential as a centre-back. He contributed to Benfica's success in the league, helping the club secure the league title in his first season with the senior team.
Silva has represented Portugal at various youth levels, demonstrating his abilities on the international stage. His performances and development caught the attention of the national team selectors, and he was called up to the Portuguese senior squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Shortly after his inclusion in the squad, Silva made his senior international debut for Portugal.
5. Alejandro Balde (Spain)
Alejandro Balde, whose full name is Alejandro González Balde, is a professional football player from Spain. He was born on January 18, 2003, in Guinea-Bissau, but he represents Spain at the international level. Balde primarily plays as a left-back.
Balde started his youth career at UE Cornellà before joining the famed La Masia academy of FC Barcelona at the age of 10. He quickly progressed through the ranks and became a standout player in Barcelona's youth teams. Balde's performances caught the attention of the club's coaching staff, and he was promoted to the Barcelona B team, which competes in the Spanish Segunda División B, in the 2020-2021 season.
In the 2021-2022 season, Balde made his first-team debut for Barcelona under coach Ronald Koeman in a Copa del Rey match. He continued to make appearances for the senior team, primarily as a backup to the established left-back, Jordi Alba. Balde's impressive displays and maturity on the field led to him being trusted with more first-team opportunities.
While Balde has not yet represented the senior national team, he has been a part of the Spanish youth setup. He has represented Spain at various youth levels, including the Under-17 and Under-19 teams.
6. Xavi Simons (Dutch)
Xavi Simons is a Dutch professional football player who was born on April 21, 2003, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He primarily plays as a midfielder.
Simons began his football career at a young age, and his talent quickly caught the attention of various clubs. He joined the famed youth academy of FC Barcelona in 2010 at the age of 7. Simons made a name for himself at Barcelona's youth teams, where he showcased his technical skills, vision, and ability to control the midfield.
In 2019, Simons made a surprising move by signing with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), one of the top clubs in France. His decision to leave Barcelona's academy drew attention from the football world. Simons joined PSG's youth setup and continued his development there.
Although Simons has yet to make his senior debut for PSG's first team, he has regularly featured for the club's reserve team in the lower divisions. His performances have been promising, and he has shown glimpses of his potential as a midfielder. At the international level, Simons has represented the Netherlands in various youth teams. He has been part of the Dutch national setup for his age group, participating in tournaments such as the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
Simons is known for his technical ability, dribbling skills, and his vision to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. He is often praised for his maturity on the field and his ability to control the tempo of the game from midfield.
7. Florian Wirtz (Germany)
Florian Wirtz is a German professional football player who was born on May 3, 2003, in Pulheim, Germany. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or forward.
Wirtz began his youth career at the local club FC Pulheim before joining the youth academy of Bayer Leverkusen in 2017. He quickly made an impact in the youth setup and progressed through the ranks at Leverkusen.
In May 2020, at the age of 17 years and 15 days, Wirtz made his senior debut for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, becoming the club's youngest-ever debutant. He immediately caught the attention with his performances, showcasing his technical skills, vision, and goal-scoring ability.
Wirtz's breakthrough season came in the 2020-2021 campaign, where he established himself as a regular starter for Leverkusen. He displayed tremendous form, contributing with goals and assists, and earned a reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in German football.
His performances also earned him recognition at the international level. Wirtz has represented Germany in various youth teams, including the Under-16, Under-17, and Under-21 levels. He has consistently impressed with his performances for the national teams, displaying his maturity and quality on the pitch.
8. Benjamin Šeško (Slovenian)
Benjamin Šeško is a professional football player from Slovenia. He was born on March 4, 2002, in Kranj, Slovenia. Šeško primarily plays as a forward.
Šeško began his football journey in the youth system of Olimpija Ljubljana, one of the top clubs in Slovenia. His performances at the youth level impressed scouts, and he eventually made his first-team debut for Olimpija Ljubljana in 2018 at the age of 16. He quickly made an impact, showcasing his goal-scoring ability and technical skills.
In 2019, Šeško made a move to RB Salzburg, an Austrian club known for developing young talent. He initially joined Salzburg's youth setup, but his performances caught the attention of the first-team coaching staff. Šeško made his debut for Salzburg's senior team in December 2019, becoming one of the youngest players to feature in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Šeško has represented Slovenia at various youth levels, including the Under-17 and Under-21 teams. He has consistently displayed his goal-scoring prowess and technical ability while representing his country.
As a forward, Šeško is known for his excellent positioning, ability to find the back of the net, and his physical presence. He has a good sense of timing when making runs and is capable of scoring goals with both feet. Šeško also possesses good aerial ability, making him a threat in the air.
9. Devyne Rensch (Dutch)
Devyne Rensch is a Dutch professional football player who was born on November 30, 2002, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He primarily plays as a right-back or center-back.
Rensch started his football journey in the youth ranks of AFC DWS before joining the esteemed Ajax academy at a young age. He quickly made progress and impressed the coaching staff with his abilities. Rensch showcased his talent, versatility, and defensive acumen, which led to his promotion to the Ajax senior team.
In the 2020-2021 season, Rensch made his first-team debut for Ajax under coach Erik ten Hag. He demonstrated his versatility by playing both as a right-back and center-back. Rensch's performances were highly regarded, as he displayed maturity, composure, and technical proficiency on the field.
Rensch's development and performances at Ajax earned him recognition at the international level. He has represented the Netherlands in various youth teams, including the Under-17 and Under-19 levels. As a defender, Rensch possesses good defensive awareness, strong tackling skills, and excellent positional sense. He is also comfortable on the ball and has good passing ability, which allows him to contribute to the team's build-up play from the back.
10. Giorgio Scalvini (Italy)
Giorgio Scalvini, born on December 11, 2003, is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a center-back for Atalanta in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. He is also a member of the Italy national team.
Scalvini began his football career at Palazzolo scuola calcio before moving to Brescia at the age of 10. In 2015, he joined the youth sector of Atalanta, one of the prominent clubs in Italy known for nurturing young talents.
On November 8, 2020, Scalvini received a call-up to the first-team squad by Atalanta's manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, for a Serie A match against Inter Milan, although he remained as an unused substitute. He continued to develop and gain experience in the youth ranks, winning the Supercup with the Atalanta U19 team in January 2021, defeating Fiorentina 3-1 in the final.
Scalvini made his debut for the Atalanta senior team on October 24, 2021, at the age of 17, in a Serie A match against Udinese. He came on as a substitute in the 85th minute in a 1-1 draw at home. In April 2022, Scalvini made his UEFA Europa League debut in a match against RB Leipzig, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Later that month, he scored his first career goal in a 2-1 defeat to Verona.
Scalvini's playing style as a center-back is characterized by his defensive prowess, ability to read the game, and strong aerial presence. Despite his young age, he has shown composure and maturity beyond his years.
Golden Boy Nominees 2023
The Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees for 2023 represents a group of talented young footballers who have made a significant impact in their clubs and leagues. These nominees have shown exceptional skills, maturity, and promise, catching the attention of fans, pundits, and scouts. They come from diverse positions, including forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers, and represent the future of football with their ability to influence games and exhibit great potential for growth.
The Golden Boy award has a rich history, with past winners including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. Winning this award often serves as a stepping stone for young players to gain recognition, secure lucrative transfers, and establish themselves as top talents in the world of football.
Among the top 10 nominees are players like Jamal Musiala, Jude Bellingham, Gavi, António Silva, Alejandro Balde, Xavi Simons, Florian Wirtz, Benjamin Šeško, Devyne Rensch, and Giorgio Scalvini, each with their own impressive achievements and contributions to the sport.
Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees 2023 - FAQs
The Golden Boy award is an annual accolade given to the best young football player in Europe. It recognizes talented players under the age of 21 who have shown exceptional skills and promise in their respective clubs and leagues.
The Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees are selected based on their performances, potential, and overall contributions to their teams. The nominees are evaluated by a panel of journalists from various European publications who consider factors such as skill, maturity, and impact on games.
The Top 10 Golden Boy Nominees represent a diverse range of positions, including forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers. This reflects the overall talent and versatility of the players chosen for the award.
Winning the Golden Boy award can serve as a stepping stone for young players to gain recognition, secure lucrative transfers to top clubs, and establish themselves as top talents in the world of football. It often opens doors to new opportunities and provides validation for their hard work and talent.
The Golden Boy award has a rich history and has been won by several illustrious players, including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, among others. These players have gone on to achieve great success and become some of the biggest names in football.