Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix has beaten nine other young players to win the 2019 Golden Boy award for the best under-21 player in Europe.
The 20-year-old Portugal international scored 18 goals for Benfica last season before a 126 million euros move to Atletico in the summer.
He has scored two goals in 10 La Liga appearances for Atletico this term.
Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze who also plays for La Liga side, Villarreal, was one of the ten nominees for the 2019 Kopa Trophee.
Chukwueze is the only African shortlisted for the award.
Other nominees include Jadon Sancho, Matthijs de Ligt, Moise Kean, Kang-in Lee, Vinicius Junior, Kai Havertz, Matteo Guendouzi, Andriy Lunin.
The award is presented to the best under-21 player in world football and was named after former French footballer Raymond Kopa.
Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho, 19, finished second with Bayer Leverkusen and Germany midfielder Kai Havertz, 20, third.
“I am very proud,” said Felix.
“It is the second time that a player from Atletico Madrid has won this award and I am happy.”
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The Golden Boy award was created by Italian newspaper Tuttosport in 2003 to recognise the best young player in Europe. Nominees must be under the age of 21 and play in a European nation’s top tier.
