As football fans, we love a little more than over-hyping the next curious youth who run out on stage with one or two phenomenal performances.
Just to prove it, the Golden Boy Award, created in 2003, is awarded to the most promising young talent in European football in 21 years. Some of the recipients apparently did not handle the hype very well – namely Alexandre Pato and Anderson – while others only achieved or exceeded their “potential” – for example Lionel Messi. Yeah, he didn ‘t get that bad, did he?
These days, there is always a lot of talent to choose from, and just for your reading pleasure, we have in 90 minutes made the 100 name-long list of nominees to the top 20. Here you go …
Yari Verschaeren in action for Anderlecht / BSR Agency / Getty Images
At just 19 years old, Yari Verschaeren was one of the top performers of the Belgian top pilots 2020/21.
Despite missing a two-and-a-half month season, the attacking midfielder managed five goals and three assists in his 16 Jupiler Pro League appearances.
Natural ability does not abound much more than in 17-year-old Rayan Cherki. The skill of the French youth international is incredible.
He is a magician on the ball, already has good decision-making and spatial awareness (exemplified by the above strike, won a decisive match against Monaco in the race for Champions League football) and is a future star – that’s for sure.
#RBLeipzig are pleased to announce the signing of defender Joško #Gvardiol ✍️
The 18-year-old will join the club on July 1, 2021 and stay at @gnkdinamo for the current season ??
? ⚪ #DieRotenBullen pic.twitter.com/s6sVDHaZcz
– RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) 28 September 2020
You may have never heard the name Josko Gvardiol but do not worry, he will be the next Dayot Upamecano or Ibrahima Konate. RB Leipzig know young talent when they see it, and they were not afraid to invest in the Croatian defender.
At just 18, he was a big part of Dinamo Zagreb’s domestic double-winning side 2020/21, playing 41 times and registering six-goal contributions all the time.
Amad Diallo in Premier League action for Manchester United / Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Now we have not seen the best of Amad Diallo on Manchester United’s senior side – of course.
But it has undoubtedly been a tough season with acclimatization for the 18-year-old, who came from Serie A for as much as 37 million pounds last summer. His record of four goals and three assists in just three Premier League 2 appearances is sufficient proof of his outstanding potential.
• Jeremy Doku • Rennes • Belgian • 19 years old
Having already been dropped six times by the world’s top international team, you probably do not need us to tell you that he is a wonderful talent! ?
Welcome to our 21, @JeremyDoku ??
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) 5 June 2021
19-year-old Jeremy Doku is another starlet who has undergone a transition season.
Arriving at Rennes last summer, the Belgian winger continued to collect five goalscorers in 30 Ligue 1 excursions.
Part of 90 minutes ‘Spring 21’ Doku is currently with Belgium at Euro 2020, for which he has scored two goals in eight internationals.
Billy Gilmour is at Euro 2020 with Scotland / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Dogged, persistent and brilliantly efficient, Billy Gilmour is everything that spectators love in a midfielder.
The Chelsea man has not had too many minutes in a star-studded Blues midfield this semester, but he is still at the European Championships 2020 with Scotland and has undoubted talent – he is another inducer of ‘Spring 21’ series, after all.
Gio Reyna did an absolute ROCKET for Dortmund this weekend ?? pic.twitter.com/VJIiApAs62
Goals (@ goals) April 20, 2021
In a turbulent campaign for Borussia Dortmund, 18-year-old Gio Reyna was a shining light.
While his results on four goals and six assistants are not the greatest, his silky, fast and creative style forces a smile on your face.
He is extremely talented and deserves his nomination.
Gabriel Martinelli is a brilliant talent / Visionhaus / Getty Images
After breaking into Arsenal’s first team in 2019/20, it has not been the fairy tale campaign that we all thought it could have been for Gabriel Martinelli 2020/21.
A knee injury that kept him out until December meant that he only appeared 14 times in the Premier League and received only three goal contributions.
But how he changes the pace of the game right after the introduction tells what you need to know about his quality.
Curtis Jones for Liverpool / Pool / Getty Images
You know you’re fine when Jurgen Klopp thinks of you a lot. Curtis Jones has not managed to break into Liverpool’s midfield, but with Gini Wijnaldum’s departure, that task can be easier.
Jones still managed nine goal contributions in 34 games during the last semester and is a very exciting talent, as he has shown with two strikes in six internationals for England U21s.
Ian️ Florian Wirtz vs. FC Bayern, 2019/20.
The 17-year-old’s first Bundesliga goal! pic.twitter.com/nCD5ZWNPmB
– Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@ bayer04_en) July 24, 2020
Bayer Leverkusen have a habit of producing young midfield stars, and they have done it again Florian Wirtz.
The 18-year-old has been a sensation since the start of the 2020/21 campaign and was even called Joachim Low’s Germany for March’s World Cup qualifiers.
During a breakout season where he succeeded with 16 goal involvements, it is no surprise that the Bundesliga star is here.
Adam Hlozek comes in for the Czech Republic ??
The 18-year-old scored 15 goals in just 19 league games for Sparta Prague this season?
Do you remember the name? # EURO2020 | #NXGN | #CZE pic.twitter.com/MxxzUBfn9D
Goal (@goal) June 14, 2021
Patrik Schick may have stolen the Czech headlines from Euro 2020, but within their squad is one of the most promising goal scorers of the next generation in Adam Hlozek.
The 18-year-old was sidelined for almost four months due to injury this season and still scored 15 goals in 19 appearances (including four in a second half on the final day) to claim the golden boot in Fortuna Liga – now it’s ridiculously impressive.
Ilaix Moriba has looked comfortable in a Barcelona shirt / Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Much like Paul Pogba, Ilaix Moriba is an elegant, tough, powerful and technically gifted midfielder who has seen nothing but fun playing for Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona.
He played 14 times in La Liga, played just 536 minutes, and recorded an impressive four-goal contribution from central midfield.
Myron Boadu for the Netherlands under 21 / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
If you want impressive numbers, how is this? 32 goals in 64 Eredivisie matches 20 years old.
Myron Boadu is a natural goal scorer and has dominated defenders in the Dutch top level for two seasons now. Last election period, the AZ man scored 15 goals in 31 games and scored in his only senior mouse so far.
All goals from France’s 7-1 friendly victory over Ukraine from the middle of the week. Beauties from Eduardo Camavinga & Kylian Mbappé. pic.twitter.com/Pr5xtWLNeD
– Get French football news (@GFFN) October 9, 2020
Rennes is known for the production of fantastic young players, and almost no one is as impressive as 18-year-old Eduardo Camavinga.
The Frenchman has the elegance and maturity of a midfielder and is already capable of running matches as if it is nobody’s business.
He made an awkward overhead kick in his full international debut for France as well, just to announce himself – the first goal shown above.
Ryan Gravenberch scores against Georgia / ANP Sport / Getty Images
Another teenager playing in 90 minutes ‘Spring 21’ series, Ryan Gravenberch is everything you could want from a central midfielder.
The cool, insured, intelligent and can do almost anything with a football, the 19-year-old has been an important cog in Erik ten Hag’s impressive Ajax side and has even gained international recognition.
He has scored a goal in his five Dutch internationals and is currently away with the squad at the European Championships.
Bukayo Saka in action for England / Pool / Getty Images
Talking about ‘Spring 21’, Bukayo Saka is the first to make the top five in this list.
In just 19 years, he is one of the key figures both on the pitch and in the locker room at Arsenal and has managed to break into the England line-up for this summer’s Euro 2020 tournament.
Now it’s the Golden Boy material.
• Jamal Musiala • Bayern Munich • German • 18 years old
The fact that he played in 37 different matches for without a doubt the best team on the planet deserves an obscene amount of credit. ?
Welcome to our 21, @JamalMusiala ??
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) June 8, 2021
Ah, the one who got away for England.
18-year-old Jamal Musiala got two of the biggest nations scrapped for his fidelity – that says it all.
Smooth, fast, crucial. His performances have been far beyond his years and made the future incredibly bright – or scary, depending on which side you are on.
Mason Greenwood is a rising star / Alex Livesey – Danehouse / Getty Images
Mason Greenwood undoubtedly only really lived to life against the later stages of the season and eventually dropped seven Premier League goals.
But the fact that we expect so much more from a 19-year-old is proof of how spectacularly talented the Manchester United star is.
He has bags of ability and two feet that no goalkeeper would ever want to face.
• Pedri • Barcelona • Spanish • 18 years old
His astonishing maturity and creative abundance in midfield will be a huge weapon for Enrique! ?
Welcome to our 21, @ Pedri ??
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) June 4, 2021
This guy arrived at Camp Nou at the age of 17 from the second tier of Spanish football and went on to play in 52 of Barcelona’s 53 matches all season, becoming completely unthinkable in the process.
Pedri is creatively superior to most football players, a silky dribbler and a tough midfielder who apparently only loves football.
The 18-year-old is as highly regarded as you can be in Spain, and rightly so.
It was difficult to lower this group of players to one, but it must only be 17-year-old Jude Bellingham.
I mean, seriously, what did you do at 17?
Whatever it was, it was not entirely superior football matches at the elite level, which surpassed ingenious football players and more than proved your worth on the international stage.
Hi Jude – you’re our foremost Golden Boy.
