Matteo Guendouzi has made the final 20-man shortlist for this year’s Golden Ball award.

WATFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on September 14, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
WATFORD, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Arsenal FC at Vicarage Road on September 14, 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Four Arsenal youngsters made the first list before this was cut down to just two.

Reiss Nelson was on the final 40 shortlist but has been cut for the final 20.

Final 20

1. Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)

2. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

3. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan)

4. Ansu Fati (Barcelona)

5. Phil Foden (Manchester City)

6. Mattéo Guendouzi (Arsenal)

7. Erling Haland (Red Bull Salzburg)

8. Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen)

9. Joao Félix (Atletico Madrid)

10. Dejan Joveljic (Eintracht Frankfurt)

11. Moise Kean (Everton)

12. Kang-in Lee (Valencia)

13. Andrij Lunin (Valladolid)

14. Danyell Malen (PSV)

15. Mason Mount (Chelsea)

16. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

17. Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)

18. Ferran Torres (Valencia)

19. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

20. Nicolò Zaniolo (Roma)

The Golden Boy award was first given out back in 2003 and since then has served as a nod towards some of the best young talent coming through.

France's midfielder Matteo Guendouzi takes part in a training session at the French national football team training base in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on September 2, 2019, as part of the team's preparation for the upcoming Euro-2020 qualifiers matches. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
France’s midfielder Matteo Guendouzi takes part in a training session at the French national football team training base in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines on September 2, 2019, as part of the team’s preparation for the upcoming Euro-2020 qualifiers matches. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

The award was originally established by the Italians Tuttosport but Bild (Germany), Blick (Switzerland), A Bola (Portugal), L’Equipe (France), France Football (France), Marca (Spain), Mundo Deportivo (Spain), Ta Nea (Greece), Sport Express (Russia), De Telegraaf (Netherlands), and The Times (UK) are all now involved, and they’ve released this year’s shortlist.

Previous Golden Boy winners

  • 2003 Rafael van der Vaart
  • 2004 Wayne Rooney
  • 2005 Lionel Messi
  • 2006 Cesc Fabregas
  • 2007 Segio Aguero
  • 2008 Anderson
  • 2009 Alexandre Pato
  • 2010 Mario Balotelli
  • 2011 Mario Gotze
  • 2012 Isco
  • 2013 Paul Pogba
  • 2014 Raheem Sterling
  • 2015 Anthony Martial
  • 2016 Renato Sanches
  • 2017 Kylian Mbappe
  • 2018 Matthijs deLigt
Latest Arsenal injury updates and news