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The shortlisted nominees for the 2022 Golden Boy have been revealed, ranging from Arsenal new boy Marquinhos, to established Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala.
The Golden Boy is an annual award presented to the best player under the age of 21 in Europe, almost like a kid’s version of the Ballon d’Or. Past winners include Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, among many other elite names.
The current accolade-holder is Pedri, who has also been nominated for this year’s version, having won 2021’s edition. The precocious Barcelona midfielder became the first player born after 2000 to scoop the much-coveted award.
Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, Destiny Udogie, Jude Bellingham and Brian Brobbey are among those up for the award
Voted for by established publications in major footballing nations, the award’s inception dates back to 2003 when the inaugural silverware was handed to a young Rafael van der Vaart who, at the time, was plying his trade for Ajax.
This year’s winner will become the 20th recipient of the award, following in the footsteps of some of the game’s most-cherished superstars. And the 40-man shortlist has now been revealed, with some current heavyweights making the cut alongside a few lesser-known names.