FC Barcelona and Spain starlet Pedri Gonzalez has been named the 2021 Golden Boy after beating off competition from 19 other youngsters to emerge with the award, Italian news outlet Tuttosport have announced.
The 18-year-old was signed by Barcelona from Segunda Division side UD Las Palmas and was integrated straight into the first team at the Camp Nou under former manager Ronald Koeman. Pedri’s performance for the club earned him rave reviews and saw him receive a first call-up to the Spanish national team aged 18 years and four months old, a mere six months after he made his Spain U21 debut.
Pedri was a key man in Spain’s run to the semifinals at Euro 2020 in his first senior tournament, playing every one of their matches. The teenager then joined up with Spain U23 side and appeared in all of their matches as they won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after losing to Brazil in the final.
The youngster signed a new contract at the Nou Camp in October with a release clause of €1 Billion, making him the first €1 billion player in all of Europe.
Pedri beat off competition from England international Jude Bellingham, who came second with almost 199 points fewer than the Spain international, a record winning margin in the history of the award. He beat off stiff competition from fellow Spaniard Gavi, Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi, Bukayo Saka, Mason Greenwood, Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo and Giovanni Reyna, among others.
Pedri won the 2021 Golden Boy award, picking up the award after 2020 winner Erling Haaland, and becoming only the third Spaniard to ever be named Golden Boy since the inception of the award in 2003 after Cesc Fabregas and Isco.
2021 Golden Boy winner Pedri follows in the footsteps of Barcelona legend Lionel Messi in becoming the only Barcelona player to have won the prestigious award.
