Sports Desk: Lamine Yamal of Spain has won the prestigious ‘Golden Boy’ award for the 2024 season, recognizing the best performance by an Under-21 footballer.
Along with receiving this honor, Yamal has set a record as the youngest player ever to win the award. The Barcelona superstar claimed the title at just 17 years and 4 months old.
In the women’s category, the Golden Boy award was won by Vicky Lopez, also of Barcelona. The awards were announced on Wednesday.
Yamal beat out Real Madrid’s Arda Güler and PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery to claim the prize. The award was previously won by Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid for the last season.
The Golden Boy award has been given annually since 2003 by Italian sports media outlet Tuttosport.
It is determined by a vote among journalists. Yamal joins the ranks of previous winners such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, and Lionel Messi.
Yamal was also recognized as the best young player at the most recent UEFA European Championship, held in Germany, where he became the youngest player to reach the final.
In the semifinals, he scored a goal against France. Spain went on to win the Euro 2024 title, defeating England 2-1 in the final.