Jude Bellingham, England and Real Madrid midfielder, wins Golden Boy award
Jude Bellingham, a skilled English midfielder, has been honored with the esteemed 2023 Golden Boy accolade, acknowledging his status as the top footballer in Europe under 21 years old. Bellingham has been in exceptional shape for Real Madrid following his transfer during the summer window, netting an astonishing 13 goals in a mere 14 games in various tournaments.
Included in his remarkable goal tally for this season are three vital goals during the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, one of which was a thrilling last-minute winner against Union Berlin. Regrettably, Bellingham won’t be able to take part in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia for England due to a shoulder injury.
On December 4, Bellingham will be honored with the Golden Boy award at a ceremony held in Turin. Showing his appreciation, Bellingham expressed gratitude to all those who have played a role in his journey thus far, including Birmingham, Dortmund, and currently Madrid. He acknowledged that without their support, his achievements wouldn’t have been possible, as there are numerous individuals to acknowledge, too many to mention in a short time. Furthermore, he expressed gratitude towards his family, emphasizing their crucial role in providing him with unwavering support, constant encouragement, and boundless affection, which fuels his relentless pursuit of greatness. Armed with the esteemed Golden Boy award, Bellingham remains resolute in his determination to surpass his own boundaries and aspires to garner numerous additional accolades in the days to come. Notably, this marks the second prestigious distinction that Bellingham has received within a short span of two months, having previously been honored with the Kopa Trophy at the 2023 Ballon d’Or event for his exceptional performance as the finest football player under the age of 21 worldwide. His exceptional displays for Borussia Dortmund formed the basis for his achievement of this recognition.
The prestigious Golden Boy prize was created by the Italian publication Tuttosport in 2003 and is determined through a voting process involving 50 journalists. Past winners include renowned players like Rafael van der Vaart, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas, and Sergio Aguero. The most recent recipient was Barcelona’s Gavi.
Raheem Sterling, while representing Liverpool, was the most recent English player to be honored with the Golden Boy award in 2014. Bellingham emerged victorious in the competition against other talented young prospects like Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich, Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United, Levi Colwill representing Chelsea, Evan Ferguson from Brighton, and Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain to secure the prestigious award for this year.
Furthermore, aside from the Golden Boy distinction, various other accolades were revealed. Edu Gaspar, the sporting director of Arsenal, was honored as the top European manager, while Tony Bloom, the president of Brighton, was acknowledged as the best European president. The success of Real Madrid is once again emphasized with the recognition of Linda Caicedo, who was honored with the Golden Girl award. Caicedo, who has been a significant contributor to Real Madrid’s Liga F team since transferring from Deportivo Cali in February, has also gained recognition on an international level. Her remarkable performance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she represented Colombia, included a remarkable goal against Germany during the group stage, which led to her nomination for the prestigious FIFA Puskas Award.