The list of candidates for Europe’s Golden Boy award, given to the best European player under the age of 21, was released on Monday. Some already well-known players are on this year’slist of 39 contenders, including: Thibaut Courtois (Atletico Madrid), Coutinho (Inter), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Stephan El Shaarawy(AC Milan), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Isco (Malaga), Erik Lamela (AS Roma), Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao), AlexOxlade Chamberlain (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Marco Verratti(PSG), and last year’s winner, Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund).
The Golden Boy award is voted for by 30 journalists from all over Europe, and will bepresented at a ceremony sponsored by the Italian sports daily TuttoSport in Turin in December. Past winners include Mario Balotelli (2010), Alexandre Pato(2009), Sergio Aguero (2007), Cesc Fabregas (2006) and Lionel Messi (2005).