For the 18-year-old Barcelona youngster Pedri – last season was like an endless treadmill run. Along with the hard (and unsuccessful) campaign of Barcelona chasing after Atletico Madrid, he also participated in three national team competitions. He represented Spain at senior level at the European Championship, as well as at youth level and at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.And not only as just a name on the list, but as one of the most important players in his team, which is why Barcelona tied him to an astronomical buyout clause during the recent contract extension. It reads an incredible billion euros (1128000000 USD)!More woe for Xavi and Barca! Pedri won’t be available for a month after another injury setbackThe quality that the guy from Tenerife possesses is further confirmed by the awards he received at his most important tournament so far – the EURO 2020. Young Pedri, although a debutant, was chosen in the best XI of the competition and was named the best young player of the tournament.He didn’t stop there. New praise came from Italy. And from a panel of judges whose word means quite a lot in the world of football.In the annual selection of Italian Tuttosport, Pedri was named the best football player in Europe under 21 for year 2021. Among those who voted for him were former football players Andriy Shevchenko, Lothar Matthaus, Hristo Stoichkov, Emilio Butragueno, Pavel Nedved, Stephane Chapuisat, Luca Toni, Samuel Eto’o , Alessandro Costacurta, Edwin van der Sar, Juan Sebastian Veron and Rui Costa. Indeed, a very prestigious board.Golden Boy 2021. Pedri 🇪🇸🏅 pic.twitter.com/nIGCW4izw4— Torcedor Informado (@TorcedorInform1) November 22, 2021 They, along with other football greats who voted, awarded the young Spaniard 318 points, which is convincingly more than the second-placed Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund, who received 119 votes.Among other candidates were Karim Adeyemi from Salzburg, Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid, Mason Greenwood from Manchester United, Bayern’s Jamal Musiala, Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch…, as well as Pedri’s teammate Gavi, who also showed his massive potential as the year is nearing it’s end.Pedri is the 19th winner of the Golden Boy award, and here are all who received that award in the past:2003 Rafael Van der Vart (Ajax)2004 Wayne Rooney (Everton / Manchester United)2005 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)2006 Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)2007 Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)2008 Anderson (Manchester United)2009 Alexandre Pato (Milan)2010 Mario Balotelli (Inter / Manchester City)2011 Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)2012 Isco (Malaga)2013 Paul Pogba (Juventus)2014 Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)2015 Anthony Martial (Monaco / Manchester United)2016 Renato Sanches (Benfica / Bayern)2017 Kylian Mbappe (Monaco / Paris Saint-Germain)2018 Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax)2019 Joao Felix (Benfica / Atletico Madrid)2020 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)2021 Pedri (Barcelona)
