Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo named among top ten candidates for 2024 European Golden Boy Award | OneFootball

Manchester United duo Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are among the top ten candidates vying for the prestigious 2024 European Golden Boy award.

The Golden Boy Award, which was established by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003, is an annual prize that crowns Europe’s best young footballer within a calendar year period.

All nominees for the prize must be under the age of 21 and plying their trade in a top league in Europe. An individual can only win it once and the ultimate winner is determined by votes from sports journalists of some of the continent’s biggest newspapers and sports publications.

Some wonderkids who have won it in the past include Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Cesc Fabregas, Anderson, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial.

The first update of the Golden Boy Football Benchmark Index has been revealed. The ranking was reached via a collaboration with Football Benchmark – data and analytics experts – and the European Golden Boy organisers.

Some of the metrics that were considered in coming up with the ranking include, “players’ performances, taking into account objective data such as playing time, transfers, performances in national teams, and at their respective clubs, which determine constant variations of the GBFB index and, therefore, of the list.”

At the top of the list is Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who is also the youngest candidate. Second is Benfica midfielder and reported United target Joao Neves. Garnacho comes in third. The three players mentioned have an estimated combined transfer market value of €169.6 million.

Another United player, Mainoo, also secured a spot in the top 10, claiming the seventh position at just 19 years old.

Apart from the leading three contenders, the only other players ahead of Mainoo are Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Leny Yoro (Lille) and Savio (Girona) in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

This recognition is a testament to the incredible strides by Garnacho and Mainoo at Old Trafford this term. The two have massively stepped up during a season in which United have been very disappointing in terms of results and performances.

Garnacho and Mainoo are already established first-team players and are now almost guaranteed inclusions in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI selections.

The Argentine has made 42 appearances across all competitions. In that time, he has plundered nine goals and four assists. Seven of his goals have come in the Premier League. No teenager in England’s top flight has amassed more minutes under their belt than Garnacho.

Meanwhile, Mainoo has so far played 24 games and has scored three goals. He made his senior England debut just last month and unsurprisingly, took to international football like a duck to water. Mainoo is set to cap off a spectacular breakthrough season with a spot in Gareth Southgate’s final squad for Euro 2024.

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