What a roller coaster year it has been for Renato Sanches. After a remarkable season with Benfica, the Portuguese ace sealed a move to German giants Bayern Munich, won the Euro 2016 shortly afterwards, and was named Young Player of the Tournament.
The season is barely halfway through, and yet the 19-year-old has scooped up another wonderful individual accolade: the European Golden Boy award.
@renatosanches35 has won Europe's #GoldenBoy award! Kingsley #Coman also came third #MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/vssBS8H0M0
— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) October 24, 2016
The Bavarians starlet was chosen by journalists from 30 newspapers across Europe as the best player under the age of 21 who currently plies his trade in Europe. He has become the first Bayern Munich player to clinch this prize, and only the second from the Bundesliga – after Mario Gotze.
The former Benfica ace beat out stiff competition to win this award, finishing ahead of the likes of his own team-mate Kingsley Coman and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Even Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United starlet who scores on almost every single debut, couldn’t beat Sanches.
The Red Devils forward, who featured in Sunday’s heavy 4-0 loss to Chelsea, came in second behind the Bayern Munich midfielder. Sanches joins the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, and Paul Pogba as previous youngsters who won this award.
Speaking of the world’s most expensive player, one awful – and hilarious – troll was aimed at his direction when the winner was announced.
Renato Sanches wins the Golden Boy award, with Marcus Rashford in 2nd. Meanwhile, Paul Pogba has been awarded the Golden Fraud award.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) October 24, 2016
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