Bojan fourth in Golden Boy trophy

Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic has finished fourth in the Golden Boy election, the award that designates the best under-21 football player in Europe, voted by sportswriters and organized by Italian sports paper Tuttosport.

Barcelona player Lionel Messi won the trophy in 2005, former Barcelona player Cesc Fàbregas won it in 2006. Last year, Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aqüero was elected.



Full results

1. Anderson (Manchester United, Bra, 20) --- 129
2. Theo Walcott (Arsenal, Eng, 19) --- 126
3. Sergio Aguero (Atlético Madrid, Arg, 20) --- 109
4. Bojan (Barcelona, Spa, 18) --- 101
5. Pato (AC Milan, Bra, 19) --- 68
6. Mario Balotelli (Inter Milan, Ita, 18) --- 54
7. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona, Spa, 20) --- 27
8. Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04, Cro, 20) --- 21
9. Diego Capel (Sevilla, Spa, 20) --- 20
10. Miralem Sulejmani (Ajax, Ser, 20) --- 18

11. Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal, Dan, 20) --- 15
12. Angel Di María (Benfica, Arg, 20) --- 14
13. Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich, Ger, 20) --- 14
14. Juan Mata (Valencia, Spa, 20) --- 10
15. Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina, Mon, 19) --- 7
16. Alexis Sánchez (Udinese, Chi, 19) --- 7
17. Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk Split, Cro, 20) --- 5
18. Simão (Panathinaikos, Moz, 20) --- 5
19. Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen, Ger, 20) --- 4
20. Gareth Bale (Tottenham, Eng, 19) --- 3

Bojan and Busquets nominated for Golden Boy

Turin sports tabloid Tuttosport has drawn up a shortlist of 40 candidates to win the Golden Boy trophy for players born in 1988 or later.

Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets (20) and Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic (18) are included in the list. The winner will be announced in December.

Barcelona player Lionel Messi won the trophy in 2005, former Barcelona player Cesc Fàbregas won it in 2006. Last year, Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aqüero was elected.

The 2008 shortlist:

Adu (Usa)
Agüero (Arg)
Anderson (Bra)
Balotelli (Ita)
Bale (Wal)
Banega (Arg)
Bendtner (Den)
Boateng (Ger)
Breno (Bra)
Busquets (Spa)

Capel (Spa)
Derdiyok (Swi)
Di Maria (Arg)
Di Santo (Arg)
Giovani (Mex)
Jovetic (Mon)
Kaboré (BFa)
Kalinic (Cro)
Kroos (Ger)
Krkic (Spa)

Marcelo (Bra)
Mata (Spa)
Michedlidze (Geo)
Okaka (Ita)
Özil (Ger)
Papastathopoulos (Gre)
Pato (Bra)
Piatti (Arg)
Pjanic (Bos)
Rakitic (Cro)

Ramsey (Wal)
Renato Augusto (Bra)
Richards (Eng)
Sarpong (Net)
Sánchez (Chi)
Sidnei (Bra)
Simão (Moz)
Sulejmani (Ser)
Vela (Mex)
Walcott (Eng)