Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala among nine Bundesliga-based nominees for Golden Boy award
Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala are among the nine youngsters who played Bundesliga football in 2022/23 that have been shortlisted for the Golden Boy.
Also on the 100-man shortlist are: Kevin Paredes (20, Wolfsburg) Luca Netz (20, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Arne Engels (19, Augsburg), Youssoufa Moukoko (18), Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (18, both Borussia Dortmund), Mathys Tel (18, Bayern Munich) and Florian Wirtz (20, Bayer Leverkusen).
Awarded annually, the Golden Boy recognises the best footballer under the age of 21 in one of Europe's top-flight leagues, per UEFA coefficient.
Mario Götze, Renato Sanches and Erling Haaland are the previous Bundesliga-based winners of the prize, presented by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport since 2003 and decided by a panel of experts.
Watch: Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala: an unforgettable campaign
Bellingham, who recently signed a long-term deal with Spain's Real Madrid, helped take Dortmund to the brink of the 2022/23 Bundesliga title with a catalogue of commanding performances. The 19-year-old won a league-high 482 challenges, whilst chipping in with eight goals and four assists. The England international's efforts have already been recognised with the Bundesliga Player of the Season award.
It was Musiala who denied Bellingham and Dortmund the Bundesliga's top prize. The 20-year-old scored a dramatic winner on the final day as Bayern claimed the title ahead of BVB on goal difference. The Germany international attacker - who, like Bellingham, has finished among the Golden Boy award's top four in each of the last two seasons - had a direct hand in 22 Bundesliga goals in 2022/23 (12 of his own, plus 10 assists). Only Eintracht Frankfurt's Randal Kolo Muani produced more (26).
Watch: All Musiala's Bundesliga goals and assists in 2022/23
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RB Leipzig-bound Benjamin Sesko (20, Red Bull Salzburg), incoming Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson (18) and Bochum's Tim Oermann (19), who spent last year on loan with Wolfsberger, have also made the initial 100-man shortlist, which will be gradually whittled down before a winner is announced in October. Barcelona's Gavi (18) was awarded the prize in 2022.
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