Atletico Madrid and Portugal forward Joao Felix has been voted the World’s best under-21 player, beating Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz.
The forward broke into Benfica first team last season and impressed with his pace, ability on the ball and strong finishing skills earning comparisons with Brazil great Kaka.
He finished the 2018/2019 football season with 15 Portugal Primeira goals from 21 starts for Benfica.
He also took part in Portugal’s Nations League triumph.
Joao Felix’s form led to him attracting interest from top European football clubs before Atletico Madrid snapped him for €126M in July. He replaced Antoine Griezmann who left for FC Barcelona.
The 20 year old has managed to score two goals and assisted once in 10 appearances for Atletico Madrid this season. He was voted as the winner of the Tuttosport award by a panel of 40 journalists, bagging 332 voting points, with England and Borussia Dortmund finishing runners-up with 175 points. Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz came in third with 75 points.
He becomes the first Atletico Madrid player to bag the award since Argentinean forward Sergio Aguero in 2007.
Joao Felix thanked Benfica Coach Bruno Lage in his acceptance speech.
‘’Thanks to the Tuttosport for the Golden Boy Award 2019. I am very proud. It is the second time that a player from Atletico Madrid has won this award and I am happy. Thanks also to Benfica, in particular to coach Bruno Lage, for all he has done for me and my family.’’ Said Felix.
Felix returned to action last Saturday against Granada after spending a month on the sidelines due to injury. He follows Matthijs de Ligt, Kylian Mbappe and Renato Sanches in winning the award, an accolade that a player can only win once.
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