With Jude Bellingham running rampant for Real Madrid domestically and continentally, we thought we take a look at four of the other young superstars who could rival the Englishman for this year's Golden Boy award.
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Jude Bellingham (England Real Madrid)
Earlier this week, the Stourbridge native became only the second player in Real history to score in each of his first three UEFA Champions League matches for the club, just one of the many records he has been able to accomplish since signing with the Spanish giants. Many of Bellingham's agemates, even some of his current teammates, have been flustered by the bright lights of the Santiago Bernabeu upon arrival, but he has seemingly thrived underneath them and has built on to his strong Borussia Dortmund career by bagging 11 goals in his opening 13 games with Los Blancos, and now looks to be the latest English star to get his hands on the prestigious Golden Boy trophy.
Jamal Musiala (Germany Bayern Munich)
While Bellingham may have ditched the Bundesliga, his long-time friend and fellow playmaker, Jamal Musiala has continued his young career with Bayern Munich. While the start to his 2023/24 campaign has not matched the standards of his English counterpart, last season the Germany international illustrated why he was so highly regarded. With 16 goals and 16 assists in all competitions while also being Die Mannschaft's best player at a disappointing 2022 FIFA World Cup showing, Musiala has illustrated that he definitely has what it takes to be a prominent figure in world football for a long time.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands Paris Saint-Germain, on loan at RB Leipzig)
The German top flight seems to be the perfect breeding ground for budding world-class players, and the Bundesliga is, for the 2023/24 season, also home to Xavi Simons. A lot of pressure has been placed on the young attacker from a young age, and while for a brief moment it seemed as though he would fall short of the expectations of his legendary namesake, his time at PSV Eindhoven showed that he could even surpass the lofty expectations that he was burdened with ever since he was in Barcelona's youth academy. After 22 goals and 12 assists for the Eredivisie giants, Paris Saint-Germain immediately denied the Dutch side the opportunity to sign Simons permanently. Instead, they thought he should continue his development at a higher level and he was loaned out once again, this time to RB Leipzig, where he is enjoying himself. Three goals and four assists in 12 matches for the German giants is an impressive return and he will be looking to build on that.
Alejandro Balde (Spain Barcelona)
While Simons may have not made into the Barcelona first team, a La Masia alumni who has, and has had a meaningful impact on the side, is left-back Alejandro Balde. The teenage sensation was a revelation for the Blaugrana in the back-end of their title-winning campaign last season and made Culers forget all about the legendary Jordi Alba as one of their own established themselves in that position. He joins the likes of Gavi and Lamine Yamal as prominent players from the club's academy that Xavi Hernandez has brought through.
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Florian Wirtz (Germany Bayer Leverkusen)
For the final pick we return to the attacking positions, and the Bundesliga, as Florian Wirtz is our final frontrunner. The attacking midfielder rose to prominence during the pandemic but after suffering a serious knee injury, the world moved on from him. He has, however, forced his way back into the minds of the football fraternity as he returned to action for Bayer Leverkusen last season, managing to get four goals and eights assist in the six months of the league season he played. This season, he has continued his ascension under Xabi Alonso, and already has three goals and four assists for the league leaders.
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