Vancouver Whitecaps FC product and Canadian national team star Alphonso Davies finds himself alongside some of the world’s top up-and-coming superstars in the 20-man shortlist for the 2019 Golden Boy award.
Davies, 18, moved to Bundesliga side Bayern Munich after the 2018 MLS season and has since scored twice across 11 appearances. Before heading overseas, the one-time Homegrown Player had eight goals and 12 assists in 65 regular-season appearances for the Whitecaps.
The award, handed out annually since 2003, goes to a player who’s 21 or younger and plays in a European nation's top division. The ultimate winner is decided upon by sports journalists from across Europe and takes into account the player's body of work across the entire calendar year.
Last year’s Golden Boy award went to defender Matthijs de Ligt, then the captain of Ajax. He’s again nominated, though now plays for Italian powerhouse Juventus. Some other high-profile nominees are forward Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), winger Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) and midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal).
In 2004, D.C. United forward Wayne Rooney won the award for his exploits with Everton and Manchester United.
