Real Madrid’s Bellingham wins Golden Boy award by record margin،
Jude Bellingham won the 2023 Golden Boy Award for best European under-21 player on Monday, receiving a record 485 out of 500 possible points from the jury.
The Real Madrid midfielder has had a good start to life at the Bernabeu, scoring 15 goals in his first 16 games after joining from Borussia Dortmund. He received the award at a ceremony organized by its founders, the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, in Turin.
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Bellingham is the first Madrid player to win the award, which has been awarded since 2003. He succeeds Barcelona midfielders Gavi, who won it in 2022, and Pedri, who won it in 2021.
The award is voted on by 50 journalists from newspapers, magazines and television channels from across Europe. Each voter chooses their five best players. First place receives 10 points, second place seven points, third place five points, fourth place three points and fifth place one point.
Bellingham was voted first by 45 of the jurors – and second by the other five – giving him a total of 485 points.
The only previous winner to match his dominance was Kylian Mbappé, who received 291 points out of 300 in 2017, when there were only 30 voters.
Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala came second in this year's poll, with 285 points. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona came third with 92 points, Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig was fourth with 86 points and Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain was fifth with 56 points.
Real Madrid and Colombia striker Linda Caicedo, 18, has won the 2023 Golden Girl Award.
Brighton's Tony Bloom was awarded the best European president award, while Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar was named best European manager.
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“There are a lot of happy people in Madrid, starting with the president,” Bellingham told Tuttosport, in an interview published on Monday.
“It was my last chance [to win the Golden Boy], because in 2024 I will no longer be able to compete… I'm happy to have succeeded on the third try. It’s a trophy for life, that you can only win once.”
Bellingham has thanked Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti for his form so far in 2023-24.
“The credit goes to Mr Ancelotti, who found the right position for me and gave me more freedom on the pitch,” Bellingham said. “But I know that I disappoint him on one point… I don't speak Spanish yet. It's hard for me. But I promise maximum commitment, guaranteed.”
Bellingham has backed teammate Arda Güler, 18 – who is yet to make his Madrid debut after suffering a series of injuries since arriving last summer – as a contender to compete for the award in the future .
“It’s a phenomenon,” he said. “We see him in training and we are delighted with him. Next, my former teammate Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund. And finally, my brother Jobe.”
