Goal takes a look at past winners of the Golden Boy award ahead of the 2018 winner announcement in December
The 2018 winner of the Golden Boy will be announced on December 17, with previous recipients of the award having gone on to achieve global success at both personal and club level.
Honouring notable players who are under the age of 21 – or born in 1998 or later – the Golden Boy identifies the best young talents across European football.
Kylian Mbappe is the most recent honouree of the award, which was established by Italian media outlet Tuttosport, with the winner decided by 30 football journalists from across Europe.
Goal takes a look at past winners of the prize, as well as what their career looked like after scooping up the award…
Kylian Mbappe – 2017 winner
The most recent Golden Boy winner has already become a household name worldwide. The young France international has gone from strength to strength for both club and country, part of an irresistible attacking force at PSG and an integral player for the French national team.
Mbappe won the Best Young Player award at the World Cup where he scored in the 4-2 win over Croatia in the final, a tournament that catapaulted him to world-class status at just 19 years old.
AdvertisementGettyRenato Sanches – 2016 winner
Having come through the Benfica ranks and then securing a €35m move to Bayern Munich in 2016, Sanches' definitive career moment was becoming the youngest player to score in a European Championships knockout phase in 2016.
Sanches was awarded the Young Player of the Tournament award for his performance in the Euros, but was loaned to Swansea City in 2017 for an unsuccessful season, after which he returned to Bayern.
GettyAnthony Martial – 2015 winner
Martial's growth has a footballer has been impressive since leaving Monaco in 2015 for £36m for Manchester United, and is the third Red Devil to scoop up the award.
Unknown when he signed for Man Utd, the 19-year-old justified his price tag when he scored on his debut against Liverpool in a 3-1 win. He endured a difficult second season and a near-departure from the club following his third term at Old Trafford, however, as well as tension with manager Jose Mourinho.
Getty ImagesRaheem Sterling – 2014 winner
Sterling emerged as a young star first at Liverpool, breaking through to the first team from the club's academy courtesy of Kenny Dalglish. The England international was a key force during Liverpool's push for the title race in 2013-14 and it was his talents in the final third that caught the eye of Man City, who signed him in in 2015.
Since movigng to the Etihad, he has been vital in Pep Guardiola's side – most recently winning the Premier League.