UEFA has announced the 2023 Golden Boy candidates and fans think Jude Bellingham is the closest one to lift the award
Jude Bellingham and Alejandro Balde are among the 20 players who have made the final list of Golden Boy 2023 nominees.
The list of nominees has been reduced to 20, and Real Madrid superstar Bellingham and Barcelona wonderkid Balde are both on it. The two are considered heavy favorites to win the prize later this month.
Bellingham, 20, has had a fantastic start to life in Madrid after joining from Borussia Dortmund for €103 million. In just ten appearances across tournaments, the English midfielder has ten goals and three assists.
His selection, though, stems from his recent season at Dortmund, where he emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s finest players. In 42 games across all competitions, he scored 14 goals and assisted on seven others.
Bellingham became the Bundesliga’s youngest captain and was named the league’s Player of the Year. He also became the UEFA Champions League’s youngest captain to score.
Meanwhile, Balde’s stock has risen at Barcelona, where he has surpassed Jordi Alba as the undisputed left-back. Last season, the 19-year-old made 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring one goal and assisting on seven others.
Bayern Munich sensation Jamal Musiala, Bayer Leverkusen midfield master Florian Wirtz, and Manchester United’s new forward Rasmus Hojlund are among those who make the cut.
Here’s the 20-man list of nominees for the Golden Boy 2023 award:
- Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid
- Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich
- Xavi Simons – RB Leipzig (on loan from Paris Saint-Germain)
- Antonio Silva – Benfica
- Alejandro Balde – Barcelona
- Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen
- Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig
- Giorgio Scalvini – Atalanta
- Rasmus Hojlund – Manchester United
- Levi Colwill – Chelsea
- Johan Bakyoko – PSV Eindhoven
- Milos Kerkez – Bournemouth
- Arthur Vermeeren – Royal Antwerp
- Evan Ferguson – Brighton & Hove Albion
- Lucas Gourna-Douath – Red Bull Salzburg
- Warren Zaire-Emery – PSG
- Ousmane Diomande – Sporting CP
- Arnau Martinez – Girona
- Mathys Tel – Bayern Munich
- Andy Diouf – Lens
