Barcelona’s Lamine wins 2024 Golden Boy award

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal won the 2024 Golden Boy award on Wednesday, the youngest winner for the world’s best under-21 men’s player while Barça Femení star Vicky López scooped the Golden Girl award.

Yamal, 17, becomes the third Barça player to win the men’s award in the last four years, following in the footsteps of teammates Pedri and Gavi. Meanwhile, López won the third edition of the women’s award after Jule Brand and Linda Caicedo.

Yamal succeeds Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, who won the trophy last year. Other previous winners since the illustrious prize was established by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 include Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.

It is the latest in a string of accolades Yamal has received since making his debut for Barça’s senior side as a 15-year-old in 2023.

In October, he won the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, becoming the youngest-ever award winner, which also recognises the best under-21 player in men’s football.

Yamal also finished eighth in the voting for the Ballon d’Or on the back of a breakout year for club and country, helping Spain win the European Championship last summer and playing a prominent role in a new-look Barça side under Hansi Flick.