The Golden Boy award for this year has been presented to 18-year-old Barcelona player Gavi. Following his outstanding performance throughout the year, Spain’s international Gavi was chosen as the best under-21 player. He won the title over Eduardo Camavinga, Jamal Musiala, and Jude Bellingham.
On Friday, October 21, Barcelona’s Gavi won the 2022 Golden Boy award. The Italian daily Tuttosport sponsors the prize, which was given to the 18-year-old by his Barcelona colleague Pedri.
To win the accolade, Gavi received more votes than Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich, Jude Bellingham of Dortmund, and Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid.
The Villa Igiea in Palermo, Italy, hosted the award ceremony, which honoured the best under-21 men’s soccer player of the year.
After taking home the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Paris on Monday, this is Gavi’s second trophy in a week.
To honour the finest young player in Europe under the age of 21 in a given year, Tuttosport, an Italian media organisation, established the Golden Boy award in 2003. The inaugural winner of the award was Rafael van der Vaart, who was followed by Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, and Cesc Fabregas.
Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli, Mario Gotze, Paul Pogba, and Isco are former champions. Selected sports writers cast the majority of the award’s votes.
“I want to thank Tuttosport,” Gavi said in a video message. “I want to thank my family, who are there in the good and bad times.
“I want to thank Barca, my teammates as without them this wouldn’t be possible. It’s an honour for me to get this award that any young player desires.”
Gavi made his debut for Barcelona in July 2021. Last season, he made 47 appearances and contributed two goals in all competitions for the Catalan club.
He was selected for the Spain national team, making him the 17 years and 62 days old player who represented La Roja and the 17 years and 304 days old player who scored for them.
Since then, Gavi has earned 12 caps for Spain and is a dependable player for both club and nation as the World Cup approaches next month.
He just extended his contract with Barca, keeping him with the team through June 2026.
