Jude Bellingham to win 'landslide' Golden Boy award but Ballon d'Or "very close"
Jude Bellingham is expected to win the coveted Golden Boy award by a landslide - but the Ballon d'Or vote is much closer.
English superstar Bellingham rubber-stamped his incredible start to life at Real Madrid on Saturday by scoring both goals - a 25-yard screamer and a 92nd-minute winner - to help his new side beat arch-rivals Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico. Madrid-based newspaper Marca claim that the 20-year-old midfielder has 'swept the vote carried out by the European media' for the Golden Boy award - also known as the Kopa Trophy - which will be presented at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on Monday evening.
That's in contrast to the Ballon d'Or voting, with Inter Miami icon Lionel Messi and Manchester City striker Erling Haaland the outstanding candidates to claim the top prize. Although it was reported earlier this month that Messi, thanks to his World Cup triumph with Argentina, had won his eighth Ballon d'Or, organisers insist that the race remains "very, very close."
Vincent Garcia - editor-in-chief of the magazine France Football, who presented the award - said as much to French outlet Telefoot. "It's tight this year," Garcia added.
Despite Haaland winning the treble in his first season with City and scoring a mind-blowing 52 goals in 53 games, Messi is the favourite to swoop the award, having last done so in 2021 when he controversially pipped Robert Lewandowski. Former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema claimed the 2022 Ballon d'Or and the Spanish giants are set to enjoy success at the ceremony again this year.
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Bellingham's impressive World Cup campaign with England, talismanic performances for Borussia Dortmund as they narrowly lost the Bundesliga title on the final day, and his 13 goals in as many games at new club Real Madrid - from midfield - have primed him to become the next Golden Boy. The Birmingham-born ace will be taking the trophy from Barcelona wonderkid Gavi, who was on the losing side in El Clasico.
Have your say! Is Jude Bellingham the best player in the world right now? Let us know your pick in the comments section.
Jude Bellingham got the better of reigning Golden Boy champion Gavi in El Clasico (Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Bellingham, who moved to Madrid for £88million this summer, beamed after leading Real to victory: "I watched many Clasicos from the sofa with my family and I told them that today it was my turn to live it first-hand and do something great. I've done that and I'm very happy."
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