The 20-man shortlist for the 2019 Golden Boy was announced on Monday, and it gives us an opportunity to take a look at previous winners of the award.
Given by top sports journalists to a U21 player that's impressed the most in the calendar year, the requirements state that the player must play in a top tier European league.
The likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Joao Felix and Ansu Fati have been nominated this time around.
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The Golden Boy was established in 2003 by Italian newspaper Tuttosport and its first winner was former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart, who enjoyed a superb campaign with Ajax that year.
So, what happened to all the past winners?
Rafael Van Der Vaart - Ajax (2003)
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In his debut season for Ajax, a 20-year-old Rafael Van Der Vaart helped the Dutch side to a Eredivisie title in 2003/04.
After spells at Hamburg, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Betis, FC Midtjylland and Esbjerg fB, the 36-year-old retired last year after making an impressive 109 appearances for the Netherlands.
Wayne Rooney - Manchester United (2004)
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A baby faced Rooney joined Manchester United in a deal worth £27 million and soon became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history.
Since his Golden Boy achievement in 2004, the former Everton striker has become England and Manchester United's all-time top scorer.
He made a return to boyhood club Everton for the 2017/18 season before joining MLS side DC United.
The 33-year-old recently agreed a deal to join Championship side Derby County as a player/coach.
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Lionel Messi - Barcelona (2005)
After making his Barcelona debut at the age of 16, Messi began to dominate world football from an early age and just two years later, he was crowned the Golden Boy in 2005.
- 8 La Liga titles
- 5 Ballon d'Ors
- 4 Champions League medals
- 5 Copa Del Reys
The greatest of all time?
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Cesc Fabregas - Arsenal - (2006)
Three years after leaving Barcelona for North London, Fabregas was a fully fledged Premier League player under Arsene Wenger, and made 49 appearances in all competitions.
Since leaving Arsenal in 2011, Fabregas has played for his old side Barcelona and Chelsea, where he has won two Premier League titles.
He now plays for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, aged 32
Sergio Aguero - Atletico Madrid (2007)
Following the departure of Fernando Torres to Liverpool in 2007, Atletico Madrid didn't struggle to replace El Nino.
In May 2006, the La Liga outfit were convinced that Sergio Aguero was the right man to replace their once prolific striker. They were right.
Aguero was awarded the Golden Boy after his superb breakthrough season at the age of 18.
He is now the highest-scoring non European in Premier League history, as well as being Manchester City's all-time top scorer.
Anderson - Manchester United (2008)
From 2008 onwards, the Golden Boy award was slightly tinted and former Manchester United midfielder Anderson was the beginning of a poor run for this prestigious award.
Anderson's move to Manchester United in 2007 was given the hype treatment and despite winning the Premier League four times, the Champions League and League Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson, his time in football since has gone down hill.
He retired earlier in September this year after spells at Internacional, Coritiba and Adana Demirspor.
Alexandre Pato - AC Milan (2009)
Once regarded as the hottest prospect in world football, a mixture of bad luck and injuries meant that Alexandre Pato's career has lagged somewhat.
After picking up the award in 2009 following a promising season with Milan, he has since played for Corinthians, Sao Paulo, Chelsea, Villarreal and Chinese Super League side Tianjin Tianjin.
He returned to Brazil with Sao Paulo in March 2019 and has scored five goals in 12 games for the club. What could have been.
Mario Balotelli - Manchester City (2010)
The third year in a row that Golden Boy have planted a curse on the winner.
Balotelli was crowned the winner after a superb spell with Inter, which included four Serie A titles and a Champions League medal.
Mario then moved to Manchester City and the fireworks began, literally.
In 2013, Balotelli tried to revive his career at AC but soon moved to Liverpool.
He now plays for Serie A side Brescia.
Mario Gotze - Borussia Dortmund (2011)
At the age of 18, Gotze made 39 appearances at the Budesliga side, picking up eight goals in during a sensational season under Jurgen Klopp.
Gotze deservedly picked up the Golden Boy award in 2011 and soon made a move to Bayern Munich.
He then returned to his stomping ground in 2016 but his career came to a halt after being diagnosed with myopathy; a rare muscular disease that threatened to end his career prematurely.
He has since bounced back and remains an important player at the Westfalenstadion.
Isco - Malaga (2012)
Isco left Valencia in 2011 to join Malaga, where he was critical in the club's progression to the Champions League quarter finals in 2012.
He became a key asset to the Boquerones but shortly after being awarded the Golden Boy in 2012, he moved to Real Madrid in 2013 for a reported fee of £30 million.
After struggling initially, he has become an integral part of Zinedine Zidane's side and has been instrumental in La Liga and Champions League successes.
He remains a Los Blancos player.
Paul Pogba - Juventus (2013)
After Sir Alex Ferguson palmed him off to Juventus in 2012 for a reported fee of £800,000, the French midfielder began to make inroads at the Old Lady and soon became a first team starter.
One year after leaving Old Trafford, he was awarded the Golden Boy.
Three years later, he became Manchester United's most expensive signing. Football is a funny old game, isn't it.
Raheem Sterling - Liverpool (2014)
Some people forget Sterling's contribution at Liverpool, as the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard dominated the headlines.
But the 22-year-old was crucial in their 2013/14 Premier League title push and was consequently awarded the Golden Boy that season.
Sterling has had his doubters since making the £49 million move to Manchester City in 2015, but has proved them wrong time and time again with a flurry of impressive performances under Pep Guardiola in recent years.
Anthony Martial - Manchester United (2015)
Manchester United were branded ridiculous after they made relatively unknown striker Anthony Martial a key piece of business four years ago.
But after 17 goals in 61 appearances for the club in 2015/16, he was deservedly awarded the Golden Boy prize.
He has been in and out of the team under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but there's no denying that he's a supremely talented player.
Renato Sanches - Benfica/Bayern Munich (2016)
Sanches' incredible breakthrough season at Primeira Liga side Benfica earned him a big move to Bayern Munich.
He scooped a young Player of the Tournament award after winning the European Championships with Portugal in 2016, and quite rightly trumped the likes of Marcus Rashford to the prestigious award.
He has since struggled to make an impact in England and Germany, and now plays at Ligue 1 side Lille after making a reported €25 million switch from Bayern in August 2019.
Kylian Mbappe - Monaco/Paris Saint-Germain (2017)
Mbappe's short but memorable beginnings at Monaco were emphatic and in September of that year, he earned a big money move to Paris Saint-Germain, where he would eventually become the world's most expensive player.
He netted 13 times in 27 appearances for the French champions in the 2017/18 season, striking a lethal partnership with Edinson Cavani and Neymar.
He remains a PSG player after winning the World Cup last summer with France.
Matthijs de Ligt - Ajax (2018)
Last season was a memorable one for young defender Matthias de Ligt, who is now aiming to retain the award after claiming it in 2018.
He reached the Champions League semi-final stage with Ajax, falling just short after a last minute goal from Lucas Moura sent Tottenham through to the final in Madrid.
The 20-year-old joined Juventus in the summer and is once again in contention for this year's Golden Boy.
But he faces stern competition from Portugal hot-shot Joao Felix, Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and England trio Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount and Phil Foden.
Who will win it this year around?
Let us know in the comments.
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