The Golden Boy 2023 nominees have been announced. 100 players aged under 21 who play in Europe are in contention for this prize that rewards the best young player of the season. This year, only one Brazilian made the cut.
We’re talking about Zenit defender Robert Renan, who appears in 34th place. The 19-year-old sensation had an impressive performance in the U20 South American tournament earlier this year, helping his nation win the title unbeaten.
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Robert Renan, the only Brazilian in contention for the Golden Boy 2023 award
However, the Brazilian youngster is not seen as favorite to win the accolade. Instead, German sensation Jamal Musiala, English star Jude Bellingham or Spanish prospect Gavi seem to be favorites for the prize.
The Golden Boy has been awarded since 2003, and only two Brazilians have won it so far. Anderson took it home in 2008, and only a year later, Alexandre Pato emerged victorious. These are all the nominees this year:
- Jamal Musiala (Germany / Bayern Munich)
- Jude Bellingham (England / Real Madrid)
- Gavi (Spain / Barcelona)
- Antonio Silva (Portugal / Benfica)
- Alejandro Balde (Spain / Barcelona)
- Xavi Simons (Netherlands / PSV Eindhoven)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany / Bayer Leverkusen)
- Benjamin Sesko (Slovenia / RB Salzburg)
- Devyne Rensch (Netherlands / Ajax)
- Giorgio Scalvini (Italy / Atalanta)
- Lucas Gourna-Douath (France / RB Salzburg)
- Arthur Vermeeren (Belgium / Antwerp)
- Ryan Cherki (France / Lyon)
- Harvey Elliot (England/Liverpool)
- Milos Kerkez (Hungary / AZ Alkmaar)
- Rasmus Hojlund (Denmark / Atalanta)
- Rico Lewis (England / Manchester City)
- Arnau Martínez (Spain / Girona)
- Emanuel Emegha (Netherlands / Sturm Graz)
- Elias Jelert (Denmark / Copenhagen)
- Stefan Bajcetic (Spain / Liverpool)
- Martin Baturina (Croatia / Dinamo Zagreb)
- Levi Colwill (England / Brighton)
- Zaire-Emery (France / PSG)
- Martin Vitik (Czech Republic / Sparta Prague)
- Ernest Nuamah (Ghana / Nordsjaelland)
- Ismael Doukouré (France / Strasbourg)
- Zeno Debast (Belgium / Anderlecht)
- Bjorn Meijer (Netherlands / Brugge)
- Johan Bakayoko (Belgium / PSV)
- Mathys Tel (France / Bayern Munich)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Argentina / Manchester United)
- Oleksandr Sputin (Ukraine / Zorya)
- Robert Renan (Brazil / Zenit)
- Ariel Mosor (Poland / Piast)
- Hugo Larsson (Sweden / Malmo)
- Matija Frigan (Croatia / Rijeka)
- Maurits Kjaergaard (Denmark / RB Salzburg)
- Bynoe-Gittens (England / Borussia Dortmund)
- Miretti (Italy / Juventus)
- Amane Romeo (Ivory Coast / BK Hacken)
- Bilal El Khannous (Morocco / Genk)
- Pavlo Isenko (Ukraine / Vorskla Poltava)
- Evan Ferguson (Ireland / Brighton)
- Andy Alune Diouf (France / Basel)
- Veljko Ilic (Serbia / Backa Topola)
- Christos Zafeiris (Norway / Slavia Prague)
- Enciso (Paraguay / Brighton)
- Bitshiabu (France / PSG)
- Hakon Arnar Haraldsson (Iceland / Copenhagen)
- Lesley Ugochukwu (France / Rennes)
- Stefan Lekovic (Serbia / Red Star)
- William Clem (Denmark / Copenhagen)
- Maksym Dyachuk (Ukraine / Dynamo Kyiv)
- Aurele Amenda (Switzerland / Young Boys)
- Valdemar Lund Jensen (Denmark / Copenhagen)
- Sael Kumbedi Nseke (France / Lyon)
- Johan Bangsbo (Sweden / Gothenburg)
- Christopher Bonsu Baah (Ghana / Sarpsborg)
- Tommaso Baldanzi (Italy / Empoli)
- Petar Ratkov (Serbia / Backa Topola)
- João Neves (Portugal / Benfica)
- Viktor Melekhin (Russia / Rostov)
- Lucas Boel Hey (Denmark / Lyngby)
- Yossoufa Moukoko (Germany / Borussia Dortmund)
- Elye Sepe Wahi (France / Montpellier)
- Romeo Lavia (Belgium / Southampton)
- Victor Lind (Denmark / IFK Norrkoping)
- Oscar Gloukh (Israel / RB Salzurg)
- Gnonto (Italy / Leeds United)
- Noah Persson (Sweden / Young Boys)
- Filip Sidklev (Sweden / IF Brommapojkarna)
- Otto Rosengren (Sweden / Mjallby)
- Tim Oermann (Germany / Wolfsberger)
- Arne Engels (Belgium / Augsburg)
- Mathias Lovik (Norway / Molde)
- Marcus Baggesen (Denmark / IFK Norrkoping)
- Arda Guler (Türkiye / Fenerbahçe)
- Kacper Kozlowski (Poland / Vitesse)
- Isaak Touré (France / Auxerre)
- Alexander Busch (Denmark / Silkeborg)
- Ervin Omic (Austria / Wolfsberger)
- Tobias Slotsager (Denmark / Odense)
- Luka Stojkovic (Croatia / NK Lokomotiv Zagreb)
- Habib Diarra (France / Strasbourg)
- Facundo Buonanotte (Argentina / Brighton)
- Kevin Jesus Kelsy (Venezuela / Shakthar)
- Arsen Zakharyan (Russia / Dynamo Moscow)
- Valentin Carboni (Argentina / Inter Milan)
- Odin Holm (Norway / Valerenga)
- Mohamed-Ali Cho (France / Real Sociedad)
- Samuel Iling-Junior (England / Juventus)
- Désiré Doué (France / Rennes)
- Diomande (Ivory Coast / Sporting Lisbon)
- Lewis Hall (England/Chelsea)
- Maximo Perrone (Argentina / Manchester City)
- Matias Soulé (Argentina / Juventus)
- Carney Chukwuemeka (England/Chelsea)
- Lucas Netz (Germany / Borussia Monchengladbach)
- Kevin Paredes (USA / Wolfsburg)
