The official 20-man shortlist list for the Golden Boy award was declared yesterday, and it still stars the sensational youngster from Arsenal, Bukayo Saka.
The prize is handed out by Tuttosport and is given to the best youngster where the bar is 21 years and they are plying their trade in the top European leagues.
Here are the representatives from various countries
Pedri, Jude Bellingham and Gio Reyna are amongst the top nominees in the final list and will be giving others a run for the money.
The final 20 players who are on the list now have been chosen from 10 different countries, and the winner will be announced on December 13th.
Spain has the highest number of nominees with four names that include Pedri, Gavi, Bryan Gil and Yeremi Pino.
Germany follows suit with three nominees that comprise the likes of Karim Adeyemi, Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.
Three representatives from England are Jude Bellingham, Mason Greenwood and Bukayo Saka. French sensations, Eduardo Camavinga and William Saliba are on the list too.
Italy’s representatives in the ongoing contest will be Daniel Maldini and Roberto Piccoli while Ryan Gravenberch and Jurrien Timber hail from the Netherlands.
The only two non-European stars to feature in this list are Reyna who recently donned the US team’s national jersey alongside Brazil and Real Madrid striker, Rodrygo.
Ronaldo’s land has just one representative in Nuno Mendes while Charles De Ketelaere completes the list by being the solitary embodiment of Belgium.
The shining numbers of Saka
Bukayo Saka has muscled out a tough showdown so far as he fought tooth and nail to keep Arsenal’s aspirations alive, while his illustrations in the Euro Cup were sublime enough to give England new hope.
In the ongoing season, Saka has managed 7 appearances and scored once in the Premier League. While from two EFL Cup showdowns, he has already fired home once.
Though picking out the best from the illustrious list is a challenge, but Saka will be running a good deal when the final tug of war begins between these 20.
