Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix has won the Golden Boy award for the best under-21 player in Europe.
Former Benfica player Joao Felix has beaten Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho to win the 2019 Golden Boy award for the best under-21 player in Europe.
He broke into the Benfica team last season and his journey has been like a fairytale. The Portugal international has impressed with his athleticism, ability on the ball and strong finishing skills, earning comparisons with Brazil and Milan great Kaka.
Atletico Madrid bought Felix in the last summer for €126million in order to replace Antoine Griezmann, who went to Barcelona in the summer.
Felix is still settling in Atletico and has only scored 2 goals and gave 1 assist in 10 appearances. But now, Joao Felix becomes the first Atletico player since Sergio Aguero in 2007 to take the award home. 40 journalists voted to make him the winner of the Tuttosport award.
The Golden Boy award was created by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 to recognise the best young player in Europe. Nominees must be under the age of 21 and play in a European nation’s top tier.
The previous winners of the award include Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Wayne Rooney and Raheem Sterling. Last year Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt won the award.
Felix told the Italian publication: “Thanks to Tuttosport for the Golden Boy Award 2019, I am very proud. It is the second time that a player from Atletico Madrid has won this award and I am happy.
Thanks also to Benfica, in particular to coach Bruno Lage, for all he has done for me and my family.”
The complete Golden Boy 2019 rankings:
1. Joao Felix, Portugal, Atletico Madrid, votes 332
2. Jadon Sancho, England, Borussia Dortmund, 175 votes
3. Kai Havertz, Germany, Bayer Leverkusen, votes 75
4. Erling Haaland, Norway, Red Bull Salzburg, votes 74
5. Matthijs de Ligt, Netherlands, Juventus, votes 71
6. Ansu Fati, Spain, Barcelona, votes 49
7. Phil Foden, England, Manchester City, votes 46
8. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy, AC Milan, votes 37
9. Nicolo Zaniolo, Italy, Roma, votes 36
10. Donyell Malen, Holland, PSV Eindhoven, votes 35
11. Mason Mount, England, Chelsea, votes 29
12. Rodrygo, Brazil, Real Madrid, votes 20
13. Vinicius Jr, Brazil, Real Madrid, votes 13
14. Moise Kean, Italy, Everton, votes 13
15. Andriy Lunin, Ukraine, Real Valladolid, votes 11
16. Dejan Joveljic, Serbia, Eintracht Frankfurt, votes 9
17. Matteo Guendouzi, France, Arsenal, votes 9
18. Alphonso Davies, Canada, Bayern Munich, votes 1
*Each journalist assigned 10 points to the first vote, 7 to the second, 5 to the third, 3 to the fourth and 1 to the fifth
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