Barcelona midfielder Pedri wins Golden Boy award

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Barcelona star Pedri won the 2021 Golden Boy award on Monday.

"Pedri wins the Golden Boy award! Congratulations, Pedri!" the Spanish football powerhouse said on Twitter.

A statement on Barcelona's website said Spain's Pedri, 18, received 318 points in the voting to beat Borussia Dortmund's Jude Bellingham.

English midfielder Bellingham had 119 points to come second in the polls.

"I am honored to receive the Golden Boy award. I want to thank everyone for supporting me this year," Pedri said.

Established in 2003, the Golden Boy award is presented each year by Italian sports daily Tuttosport to the best U21 player.

The Barcelona midfielder will get his award at a gala to be held in Turin, Italy on Dec. 13.

Pedri played 73 matches in all competitions for Barcelona and Spain in the 2020-21 season, including the UEFA EURO 2020 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Dortmund's 21-year-old Norwegian star Erling Haaland was the 2020 winner.

Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling, and Kylian Mbappe are among the previous winners of the award, as well.

The first Golden Boy was former Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

A 2010 FIFA World Cup silver medalist, van der Vaart, now 38, won the prestigious award as an Ajax Amsterdam player in 2003.