Rabat – Moroccan player Bilal El Khannouss has made it to the list of 25 finalists for the prestigious Golden Boy Award.
The award is presented annually by the Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport to recognize the most outstanding football talent under the age of 21 in Europe. The publication unveiled the finalists’ names this week on Thursday.
El Khannouss, who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club Genk, has secured a spot among the finalists through a wildcard entry, meaning that he was granted a special nomination, not initially included in the standard selection process.
A wildcard entry is granted based on exceptional performance, potential, or notable qualities to ensure that deserving players are acknowledged and included in the competition, even if not part of the initial selection.
The Moroccan player was born in 2004 in Strombeek-Beever, Belgium. Despite his young age, he gained international recognition for his impressive performances with Genk and the Moroccans national team.
He notably made his mark on the grand stage at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar as the youngest player in the Moroccan squad.
Tuttosport will reveal the winner during a press conference in November.
The Italian publication launched the award in 2003, with an international panel of football journalists acting as a jury to select the winner.
The Golden Boy Award has become a prominent recognition in the football world. It recognizes the most outstanding young footballers in Europe, assessing their performances, potential, and impact on the sport.
The list of past winners includes notable names such as Rafael Van der Vaart (2003), Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005), Paul Pogba (2013), Kylian Mbappe (2017), and Erling Haaland (2020).
The reigning champion is Spanish player Pablo Martin Paez Gavira, known as Gavi.
