Trent Alexander-Arnold Named Golden Boy Runner-Up

Europe’s best young player over the past year is Ajax centre half Matthijs de Ligt. The second best, at least according to the voters of Tuttosport’s Golden Boy award, is Liverpool fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It may not quite have the ring that winning would, but it still serves as a nice reminder of just how well the young Liverpudlian has played since forcing his way into the starting conversation last season.

It’s also hard to quibble with De Ligt taking the award in 2018 after Kylian Mbappe won it last year. Liverpool’s only winner since the award’s inception was Raheem Sterling, who took top honours in 2014.

The top five was rounded out by Roma’s Justin Kluivery, Milan’s Parick Cutrone, and Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. Mbappe, while eligible, was not amongst the finalists with voters resistant to the idea of a repeat winner.

The award is voted on annually by a 35-member panel comprised of journalists from top European outlets that include Bild, Blick, l’Equipe, Marca, De Telegraaf, The Times, and Tuttosport.