Since 2003, 16 players have won Golden Boy award. Who is the best Golden Boy? We posted a vote a day ago: VOTE: Pick your top 5 Golden Boy award winners! And here are the results:
1. Messi
Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi was relocated to Spain to join Barcelona at age 13. After a fast progression through Barcelona's youth academy, Messi made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004. He established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, finishing 2007 as a finalist for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award, a feat he repeated the following year.
2. Mbappe
Mbappe came into prominence at an early age, starring for the youth academy at Bondy before gaining a move to Monaco, where he made his professional debut in 2015, aged 16. Mbappe then quickly established himself as a regular goalscorer for the first team in the 2016–17 season, as he helped the club gain their first Ligue 1 title in seventeen years. A year later, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for €180 million, making him the most expensive teenager, and the world's second-most expensive player.
3. Rooney
Rooney joined the Everton youth team at the age of 9 and made his professional debut for the club in 2002 at the age of 16. He spent two seasons at the Merseyside club, before moving to Manchester United for £25.6 million in the 2004 summer transfer window. He won 16 trophies with the club, including five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
4. Pogba
Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Pogba flourished as a member of local youth teams. He eventually joined the youth team of Ligue 1 side Le Havre, before a protracted transfer brought him to Manchester United in 2009. Two years later, limited appearances persuaded him to depart to join Italian side Juventus on a free transfer in 2012, where he helped the club to four consecutive Serie A titles, as well as two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. During his time in Italy, Pogba received the Golden Boy award in 2013.
5. Aguero
Aguero began his career at Independiente. On 5 July 2003, he became the youngest player to play in the Argentine Primera Division on his debut at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona in 1976. In 2006, he moved to Europe to play for La Liga side Atlético Madrid, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs by scoring 101 goals in 234 appearances.