Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham has won Tuttosport’s Golden Boy award for 2023.
Bellingham took home a staggering 97% of the voting to claim this year’s prize, equalling Kylian Mbappe’s 2017 record for highest percentage of votes received.
The 20-year-old enjoyed a stellar final season at Borussia Dortmund, leading them to within a point of winning their first Bundesliga title since 2012, only to be pipped to first place on the final day by Bayern Munich.
Since signing for Real Madrid, Bellingham has become a global superstar, already grabbing 13 goals and three assists in 14 games for Los Blancos. His penchant for scoring late winners – including away at Barcelona in El Clasico – and iconic arms-out celebration have seen him become a meme in Spain too.
In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Bellingham said: “I just wanted to thank everyone who voted for me for the 2023 Golden Boy, I really appreciate it. I’d like to thank everyone that’s been part of my journey so far at Birmingham, Dortmund and now Madrid. It wouldn’t be possible without them – there’s so many that I’d be here for hours naming them all!
“Lastly, and most importantly, my family who give me the support and motivation and the love every day to keep striving. Now that I’ve got this beautiful award, I want to keep going and pushing the limits of my potential and hopefully there’s many more trophies to come.”
Bellingham beat the likes of Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde, RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and Benfica’s Antonio Silva to the award. He also recently took home France Football’s Kopa Trophy at the 2023 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Only two other Englishmen have won the Golden Boy award before – Wayne Rooney in 2004 and Raheem Sterling in 2014. The most recent recipients of the Golden Boy were Gavi in 2022, Pedri in 2021 and Erling Haaland in 2020.
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