sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
2008 Golden Boy winner is now completely unrecognisable 15 years after his victory
Home>Football>Football News
Published 11:51 4 Dec 2023 GMT

2008 Golden Boy winner is now completely unrecognisable 15 years after his victory

He looks very different.

Chris Byfield

Chris Byfield

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

The 2008 Golden Ball winner looks completely different 15 years since his victory.

This evening England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham will be presented with the 2023 Golden Boy award - given to the best under-21 player in Europe's top flights.

Bellingham, who in October was also recognised as the best under-21 player in the world at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, has scored 15 goals in 17 appearances since moving to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund this summer.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has been part of my journey so far at Birmingham, Dortmund and now Madrid. It wouldn't be possible without them," he said, upon being announced as the Golden Boy winner two weeks ago.

Advert

"Lastly and most importantly my family who give me the support and motivation and love every day to keep striving.

"Now I have this prestigious award I want to keep going. I want to keep pushing the limits of my potential and hopefully many more trophies to come."

Bellingham is the first English player to win the award since Raheem Sterling in 2014, while Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have also claimed the prize during their careers.

And Bellingham’s victory got SPORTbible thinking about other recipients of the Golden Boy awards, and where they may have ended up.

Anderson, the former Manchester United midfielder who received the Golden Boy award in 2008, looks particularly different judging by his social media.

Gone are the player's famous dreadlocks, with the Brazilian now sporting a clean-shaven haircut.

Since leaving United back in 2015, Anderson spent the latter stages of his career in Brazil, playing for Internacional and Coritiba before ultimately heading to Turkey for the final two seasons of his career at Adana Demirspor.

However, Anderson’s time was plagued by injuries, which led to the Brazilian’s decision to retire at the age of 32 in 2020.

Featured Image Credit: De Boa Bet & Getty

Topics: Football, Manchester United, Jude Bellingham, Premier League

Chris Byfield
Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.

Recommended reads

Thierry Henry picks player who will surprise everyone at World Cup – ‘There’s a guy people don’t know about...’GettyRonnie O’Sullivan says snooker star can win 'multiple world titles' and gives update on futureGetty'The only thing he can do is now is tar his career...' - Arnold Allen gives damning verdict on Conor McGregor's comebackGetty ImagesGareth Barry on Thomas Tuchel advice, England squad picks and World Cup: 'He’ll be fighting'Getty

Advert

  • 2008 Golden Boy winner is now completely unrecognisable 16 years after his victory
  • England Star Is Unrecognisable 15 Years After Ashes Victory In Australia
  • Ballon d'Or nominee now looks completely unrecognisable after retiring at 28 to sell vacuum cleaners
  • The player Thierry Henry once said was his toughest opponent is now unrecognisable

Choose your content:

10 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • Instagram/madhousetv_ - Getty Images
    10 mins ago

    Neymar's immediate reaction to Brazil World Cup call up is going viral

    Neymar, who is Brazil's leading goalscorer with 79 goals from his 128 appearances, will feature at a fourth World Cup.

    Football
  • Getty
    an hour ago

    Chelsea prepared to sell Joao Pedro to fund transfer for global superstar

    Pedro could leave Chelsea

    Football
  • Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Footage of Joao Pedro's family reacting to Brazil squad announcement is a painful watch

    Pedro was left out of Carlo Ancelotti's 26-man squad.

    Football
  • Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Joao Pedro issues statement after being left out of Brazil's World Cup squad as Carlo Ancelotti addresses decision

    To the surprise of many, Pedro has been left out alongside a number of other big names.

    Football