Gavi: Rising Star and Ballon d’Or Contender
Gavi’s ascent to football stardom came with record-breaking speed. He captured two prestigious prizes within a single week, signaling his breakout status on the world stage. France Football, the magazine that runs the Ballon d’Or, honored him as the world’s best young player with the Kopa Trophy. The moment arrived last Monday, marking a turning point in a remarkable season. As the week closes, the Andalusian youngster also threads the path to another high honor, the Tuttosport Golden Boy award, awarded by Italy’s renowned Tuttosport newspaper.
Gavi arrived in spectacular fashion, lighting up the field with a level of influence that suggested a longer horizon than many expect from a player still early in his career. He steps into the shadow of Pedri in the Kopa Cup, sharing a central role in Barcelona’s midfield. The two young teammates from La Blaugrana symbolize a future that looks incredibly bright for the club. Both players represent not just pace and technique but a deeper sense of strategic value, providing consistent support to Xavi’s midfield engine.
European Golden Boy 2022…
GAVI#GoldenBoy2022 pic.twitter.com/N2kLpoOwE5
— The Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) 21 October 2022
In the Tuttosport prize, Gavi joined FC Barcelona with a contract extended through 2026 and a transfer fee clause reported around 1,000 million euros. He surpassed peers such as Camavinga, Bellingham, and Musiala, all of whom were in the same conversation as top young talents in European football.
For the first time in this award series, two players from the same club, Pedri and Gavi, repeated as finalists in consecutive years (2021 and 2022). The pairing underscored Barcelona’s rekindled strength in nurturing homegrown talent and guiding them into a global stage, where both players have become key contributors to the club’s evolving midfield philosophy.