Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba on Wednesday won the 2013 Golden Boy award, which is handed out annually to the best player under the age of 21 and is voted for by 30 newspapersaround the world. Pogba has had a breakthrough season for club and country, playing a key role in France lifting the U20 World Cup as well as Juve’s Scudetto victory last season; his solidperformances have now earned him a place in the senior France team.
Belgium and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion and iscurrently on loan at Everton this season, finished second in the voting, while Schalke and Germany midfielder Julian Draxler finished third.
Last year’s winner of the11-year-old prize was Malaga midfielder Isco, who has since joined Real Madrid. The 2011 award went to then-Dortmund forward Mario Goetze, who is now at BayernMunich.