The 2022 Golden Boy award, the prestigious honour bestowed upon the best and brightest young talent in European football each year, has been won by Barcelona midfielder Gavi.
First established by Italian publication Tuttosport in 2003, the Golden Boy award is presented annually to the most impressive player under the age of 21 playing in the top tier of any European league during that calendar year.
The inaugural award was won by Rafael van der Vaart in 2003, and since then the prize has been handed to some of the very biggest names in both European and world football, although there are many of this century’s most elite players who have it missing from their resume.
Here’s a reminder of every previous Golden Boy winner in chronological order and a look at whether their respective professional careers delivered on their initial promise.
2003: Rafael Van der vaart- Ajax
2004: Wayne Rooney – Everton/ Manchester United
2005: Lionel Messi – Barcelona
2006: Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal
2007: Sergio Aguero – Atletico Madrid
2008: Anderson – Manchester United
2009: Alexander Pato – AC Milan
2010: Mario Balotelli – Inter Milan/ Manchester City
2011: Mario Gotze – Borrusia Dortmund
2012: Isco – Malaga
2013: Paul Pogba – Juventus
2014: Raheem Sterling – Liverpool
2015: Antony Martial – Monaco/Manchester United
2016: Renato Sanchez Benfica/ Bayern Munich
2017: Kylian Mbappe – Monaco/ PSG
2018: Matthijs de light – Ajax
2019: Joao Felix – Benfica/Atletico Madrid
2020: Erling Haaland – Borrusia Dortmund
2021: Pedri – Barcelona
2022: Gavi – Barcelona
