ENGLAND and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has won the 2023 Golden Boy award – given to the best under-21 player in Europe’s top flights.
Colombia and Real Madrid forward Linda Caicedo, 18, won the Golden Girl award.
Bellingham, 20, moved from Borussia Dortmund to Real in the summer and has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances.
This award comes after he was recognised as the best under-21 player in world football at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October.
“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.
“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, when the Chelsea winger was at Liverpool.
Other notable winners include Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.
Manchester City striker Haaland was recognised this time by winning the Golden Player Man award.
It comes after the 22-year-old’s stunning first season at the Premier League champions in which he scored 52 goals in 53 appearances.
Barcelona and Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati received the Golden Player Woman award.
The 25-year-old won the Ballon d’Or last month and has received more recognition following a standout year in which she helped her club triumph in the Spanish top flight and Champions League, and her country win the World Cup in the summer.
Other awards given during the ceremony included Arsenal’s sporting director Edu Gaspar winning Best European Manager and Brighton’s Tony Bloom named Best European President.