The Golden Boy award is given to the most outstanding young footballer in Europe, often signaling a future superstar. However, not every winner fulfils their potential. Here’s a look at some Golden Boy winners from 2004 to 2019 and where they are now.
🎖️2004: Wayne Rooney (39, Liverpool, England):
Rooney was the golden child of English football. The former striker captained both England and Manchester United, becoming the all-time scorer for both.
Whereabout: Recently sacked as Plymouth manager; now a sports pundit on English TV.
🎖️2008: Anderson (36y, Porto Alegre, Brazil):
The Brazilian was called up for the national team at 19, won the Copa América in 2007, and joined Manchester United, winning the Premier League, Champions League, and Golden Boy award in 2008.
Whereabout: Assistant Manager at Adana Demirspor.
🎖️2009: Alexandre Pato (35y, Pato Branco, Brazil):
A promising career derailed by injuries. Pato had stints at AC Milan and Chelsea before returning to São Paulo.
Whereabout: Retired.
🎖️2010: Mario Balotelli (34y, Palermo, Italy):
Famously known for his "Why Always Me?" moment. Balotelli’s career was filled with talent and controversy. He played for Man City, Inter, AC Milan, and had stints in Turkey.
Whereabout: Without a club after Genoa terminated his contract.
🎖️2011: Mario Götze (32y, Memmingen, Germany):
Famous for scoring the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final. Injuries hampered his career, but he played for Dortmund, Bayern, Frankfurt, and PSV.
Whereabout: Currently playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.
🎖️2012: Isco (32y, Benalmádena, Spain):
His magical form at Málaga led to a move to Real Madrid, where he was part of their dominant era. Injuries saw him fall out of favour, leading to stints at Sevilla and now Real Betis.
Whereabout: Currently shining at Real Betis.
Conclusion:
Some of these players reached the pinnacle of football, while others struggled with injuries and inconsistency. The Golden Boy award may predict greatness, but football’s unpredictability ensures every career takes a different path.
You can check out this weekend’s games on MSport:
https://www.msport.com/ng/web/?EMA
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