Pedri wins 2021 Golden Boy award

Pedri won the 2021 Golden Boy award on Monday. From the 40 journalists voting for the award, 24 of them have selected Pedri as their top vote. The

midfielder has also been selected among the top-three votes 36 times.

Pedri has so far made 56 appearances for Barcelona's senior team in 2021. He has also featured in 10 matches for Spain, being part of Luis Enrique's side that reached the Euro 2020 semi-finals. After the Euros, Pedri starred for Spain's Olympic team and won the silver medal at the summer games.

, who organizes the Golden Boy award, announced Pedri as this year's winner on Monday. 

 "I am pleased to report that the Barcelona midfielder and Spanish National Pedri has won the 19th edition of our international trophy which elects the best Under 21 in the world registered for a European club of the top division,"

Tuttosport director Xavier Jacobelli 

.

"A deserved triumph. The boy from the Canaries, who succeeds the Norwegian [Erling] Haaland, has beaten the competition by a landslide. Of the 40 journalists who vote representing the most illustrious newspapers of our continent, 24 placed him in first place of their preferences, another nine in second position and three in third."

Borussia Dortmund starlet

was ranked second, with his points tally of 119 far off Pedri's 318 points. This is the biggest gap in votes between first and second-placed candidates in the award's history.

Speaking to the Italian outlet, Pedri said:

"I thank Tuttosport for this trophy, which makes me proud. Thanks also to all the members of the jury and the fans who have always supported me in this simply incredible 2021 for me.

"And of course, many thanks to Barca, the national team, my family, my friends and obviously to all those who have been close to me day after day. Without them I would not have been able to win the Golden Boy award."

Follow

for the

.