2019 Golden Boy nominees rated, including Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal wonderkids
The 2019 Golden Boy nominees have been announced and three talented English youngsters are in contention for the award.
The 40-man list released last month has been cut in half with the winner set to be announced in Turin on December 16.
English starlets Phil Foden and Mason Mount, of Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, make it onto the list after bursting onto the scene in the last 12 months.
There was also a place for Borussia Dortmund and England star Jadon Sancho, who has three Bundesliga goals and five assists in just seven games this season.
Last year’s winner Matthijs de Ligt, 20, is again nominated for the prize following his move from Ajax to Juventus over the summer, even if he's looked out of form.
But who deserves the award the most? marvelbet369.com has assessed the form of all the nominees and ranked them from 20-1...
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20. Rodrygo (Real Madrid, Brazil)
The young Brazilian got off to a flyer for his new club this season, scoring just 93 seconds into his debut.
However, he has yet top play regularly for Real and is still finding his feet in the division - so him claiming this award is extremely unlikely.
19. Dejan Joveljic (Eintracht Frankfurt, Serbia)
Eintracht Frankurt got rid of one Serbian in the summer and replaced him with another.
Luka Jovic moved to Real Madrid, while promising youngster Joveljic was signed.
There's a long way to go for the young forward, who has made just two appearances so far this season, but he's got plenty of potential.
18. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich, Canada)
The Canadian has showed plenty of promise since his move from Vancouver Whitecaps in January.
He has made ten appearances for the German champions and has found his feet early on this season with one goal in four matches.
Davies will be hoping he can break into the side for good but it'll be difficult due to the form of Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman.
17. Andriy Lunin (Valladolid, Ukraine)
The Ukrainian goalkeeper has put in a series of superb displays for his country and that is why he has been nominated for the award.
The 20-year made just seven appearances for Leganes last season before moving to Madrid and since then he has been sent out on loan and is yet to make an appearance for his new club.
Lunin is certainly one to watch, though, after collecting the Golden Glove award in Ukraine's Under-20s in the summer.
16. Ansu Fati (Barcelona, Spain)
The early-season injury to Lionel Messi saw the 16-year-old thrust into the limelight and he made quite the impression.
The winger became Barca’s youngest ever debutant earlier this term and then become their youngest ever goalscorer before the international break when he netted against Osasuna.
Fati also became the youngest player to represent Barcelona in a Champions League match after being named in the starting XI to face Borussia Dortmund for the Group G clash.
15. Phil Foden (Man City, England)
Unfortunately for the City midfielder, he is still struggling for game time due to the likes of David Silva, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in Pep Guardiola's squad.
With the Spanish Silva set to retire or return to his homeland at the end of this campaign, next season could really be the Mancunian's chance to show the world hem means business.
14. Kang-in Lee (Valencia, South Korea)
The 18-year-old has been a regular this season, making a total of 11 appearances over the campaign, and he was recently was named Player of the Tournament at the Under-20s World Cup for South Korea
Six appearances have followed for Valencia this season, including a brief cameo against Chelsea in the Champions League last month.
There looks to be a big future for the Asian midfielder if he keeps up his good work.
13. Ferran Torres (Valencia, Spain)
The young Spaniard has cemented his name as a first-team regular this year, having played over 30 times and scored three goals.
But it was his displays at the Under-19s European Championship that really got people talking - he scored a couple key goals and was selected in the Team of the Tournament.
12. Nicolo Zaniolo (Roma, Italy)
Roma fans have been waiting for the next big thing since the departure of their beloved veteran Francesco Totti and just might have found a new prodigy to fill his boots.
The 20-year-old was instrumental to Roma's attempt to make the top four at the tail end of last season, scoring five goals for the club who eventually finished fifth.
Zaniolo is also a bit like Totti as there is a real attitude to his game, collecting eight bookings in his last 16 matches.
11. Moise Kean (Everton, Italy)
The Italian striker has had a difficult start to life in the Premier League, having failed to score a goal so far for the Toffees in eight league appearances.
Last season, Kean burst onto the scene in Serie A after scoring six goals in just 13 league appearances.
He needs to get a goal as soon as possible to get his season up and running.
10. Mason Mount (Chelsea, England)
The Englishman has had a superb campaign so far for Chelsea, having already recorded four goals so far.
He thrived at Derby last season on loan and has gone from strength to strength this campaign, where he is excelling under Frank Lampard.
If he keeps his form up Mount is destined for big things in the game.
9. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
The young Brazilian was a sensation for Real last season, providing a ray of hope in a difficult campaign with some electric performances under Santiago Solari.
However, he grew tired after a long run of games and suffered an injury against Ajax as Los Blancos crashed out of the Champions League.
He will be hoping for a big 2020 but his end product must improve first.
8. Erling Braut Haaland (Red Bull Salzburg, Norway)
The Norwegian striker has attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs following an impressive start to the season.
The 19-year-old has netted 15 goals in 12 games for his Austrian club this season, including a hat-trick on his Champions League debut against Genk and scoring at Anfield in last week’s defeat to Liverpool.
Last summer, the prolific youngster bagged a remarkable nine goals in a single game in the Under-20 World Cup against Honduras.
He could be on the move in the summer, with Man United and Arsenal reportedly interested in his services.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan, Italy)
Incredibly, the AC Milan goalkeeper is already into his fifth season at the San Siro - at just 20 years old.
Milan are slowly making progress and the performances of the Italian stopper have been instrumental in this.
Donnarumma is good with his feet and is generally a very commanding presence between the sticks.
If he remains injury-free, he could break the Serie A appearance record which Gianluigi Buffon smashed last month.
6. Donyell Malen (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands)
Arsenal let the striker go two years ago for just £200k and he is now valued at over £50m by his club.
Malen boasts a phenomenal goalscoring record this year, with 22 goals in 31 appearances, and it is no surprise he is now being linked with a big move away from the Eredivisie.
5. Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal, France)
The curly haired Frenchman has been a shining light for Arsenal so far this season is showing commendable leadership qualities in a team that is lacking in that department.
The midfielder has dazzled in big games so far this season, particularly the north London derby. and could make the holding midfield role his own for years to come in the Gunners shirt.
4. Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
The German playmaker is attracting interest from all over Europe with some fine displays.
As with most promising German youngsters however, it seems the 20-year-old will take the tried and tested step to Bayern Munich at some point in the near future.
His 20 goals last term are enough to tell you they'll be getting some player.
3. Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid, Portugal)
Diego Simeone forked out £113m to sign the 19-year-old in the summer and shock the footballing world.
After scoring 15 goals Benfica, Atletico moved to sign Felix and make him the fifth most expensive player of all time
He then went onto make his debut for Portugal alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and he has already netted three times for Atletico since his move.
2. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund, England)
The winger's decision to move away from Manchester City may well prove to be the best choice he ever made in his career.
The teenage sensation enjoyed an incredible breakthrough season for Borussia Dortmund last season, playing a part in 28 goals across the campaign.
He has picked up where he left off this term, with three goals and five assists already in seven appearances.
Sancho is well in with a shout to be named the top boy.
1. Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus, Netherlands)
Last year's winner has had another blistering year and was just one last-gasp Tottenham goal away from leading Ajax to their first Champions League final in over 20 years.
The 20-year-old was also instrumental in Holland's run to the UEFA Nations League finals where he scored against England en route to the last two.
His stellar campaign saw him make the £67m move to Italian champions Juventus, where he will be hoping to help his side to European glory this term.
