๏ปฟErling Haaland and Jude Bellingham were both honored at the Golden Boy event in Turin, Italy, on Monday. They were celebrating their own success.
Bellingham, a midfielder for England and Real Madrid, won the prestigious Golden Boy award, which goes to the best young male football player of the past year.
Bellingham has been great since moving to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for ยฃ115 million in the summer. He has scored 15 goals in all tournaments so far, breaking Cristiano Ronaldoโs record for most goals scored in a playerโs first 15 games at the Spanish giants.
People already think the 20-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world, and Bellinghamโs performance on Monday shows how highly he is rated.
Also, Erling Haaland of Manchester City beat out Lionel Messi to win the Golden Player Man award for his amazing play that helped the team win the Treble last season.
Haaland had a great first season in Manchester, hitting 52 goals in 53 games for Pep Guardiolaโs team. That included the most goals scored in a single Premier League season.
Also honored that night was the womenโs game, with Aitana Bonmati, a defender for Barcelona, being named the best womenโs player.
With the Catalan club, the 25-year-old won the Champions League. She then won the Womenโs World Cup with Spain.
Bellingham was greeted like a rock star by the media who were covering the gala. He showed how happy he was when he won the top prize.
Bellingham said at the awards show, โI canโt be more thankful to all the people I have met along the way who have helped me get to where I am now.โ
โI want to make my team and my country the best teams in the world. To be the best player in the world, you have to help your teams win, and itโs an honor to be on that list.โ
โI think Wayne Rooney was my biggest influence as a kid because he was English and the way he played and fought so well. But Iโve also taken parts from so many other players.โ
He also said, โIโm thankful for everything football has given me so far in my life. Being able to keep playing and enjoying it with my family has been huge.โ
Haaland didnโt go to the event, but he wrote about it online and called what he had done a โhonor.โ