Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 61

< 060. Golden Boy >

The Golden Boy award was created in 2003 by the Italian sports newspaper, Tuttosport.

Awarded every year in early December, this award is given to the most outstanding young player under the age of 20 who has shown the best performance over the past year.

In other words, it’s the Ballon d’Or for promising players.

Of course, it doesn’t have as much prestige as the Ballon d’Or, but these days, with so many young players showing outstanding performances, the Golden Boy award seemed to be gaining more recognition in the 2020s.

In fact, prior to this, the Golden Boy award wasn’t generally considered very meaningful.

For example, Brazil’s Anderson, Alexandre Pato, Italy’s Mario Balotelli, and France’s Anthony Martial all won this award, but their careers didn’t reach the heights expected after they matured. Balotelli was the only one who made a significant impact; the rest… well, enough said.

However, the Golden Boys after the 2020s were consistently performing at a high level even after winning the award, developing into world-class players.

This is because all teams are paying close attention to their youth academies and investing heavily in them.

More outstanding young players were being discovered than in the past, and the competition among players under the age of 20 was becoming as fierce as that for the Ballon d’Or, so the Golden Boy award’s prestige naturally increased.

Especially in the last two years.

The 2025 Golden Boy winner and the 2026 Golden Boy winner were putting on incredible performances.

Fernando Viega of Real Madrid, the 2025 winner, led his team to win the Champions League the following season.

Florian Stauter of Bayern Munich, the 2026 winner, already has three league titles.

Therefore, unlike the previous perception that Golden Boy winners needed to be watched with caution,

The current Golden Boy award was a fairly reliable indicator.

A certificate that this player is almost certain to become a great player in the future.

In fact, most of them were already successful when they won the award.

In that context, Iago Quintes of Barcelona was the frontrunner to win the Golden Boy award at the end of the 2026/27 season.

Of course, the Golden Boy award considers a year’s performance, not just one season.

However, Quintes’ performance during the 26/27 season was strong enough to warrant his selection as the Golden Boy.

Quintes, who joined Barcelona’s first team from La Masia [Barcelona’s youth academy] at the age of 17, recorded 12 goals in the league and 3 goals in the Champions League in his second year, the 26/27 season, showcasing remarkable talent.

In addition, he was also selected for the Spanish national team, and there was talk of him being the future of Spain.

Therefore, if he maintained his performance for the remaining six months, it was widely believed that Iago Quintes would be the winner of the 2027 Golden Boy award.

Of course, that was before the 27/28 season started.

After the 27/28 season started, the consensus that Quintes would win began to shift rapidly.

-PL West Ham’s Johan Van records a hat-trick in the first game of the season!

-England’s Johan Van comes on as a substitute in the second half, turns the game around, and defeats Italy!

-West Ham defeats Man City thanks to Johan Van’s performance!

-Chelsea couldn’t stop him either, Johan Van!

-5 goals in one game, Johan Van! Overwhelming scoring record! 27 goals in 15 rounds! Certain to break the record for most goals in a single PL [Premier League] season!

-It’s not the performance of a 16-year-old! Johan Van, his performance in half a season is enough to win the Golden Boy award!

Johan Van, Johan Van, Johan Van.

Quintes was on the verge of a breakdown because of that name that popped up every time he turned on the sports news.

There was nothing wrong with his own performance.

This season was only his third, and he was continuing to perform better than expected for his age.

However, a guy who suddenly appeared was setting unbelievable records every day.

And the media was constantly comparing him to that guy.

They said he couldn’t be compared to him at the same age, and that the odds of winning the Golden Boy award had overwhelmingly shifted.

In the end, Iago Quintes had no choice but to grit his teeth.

Other players under the age of 20 felt the same way.

They couldn’t help but be spurred on by the news coming out of England.

So, perhaps the reason why the performances of young, promising players were so outstanding this season was because of him.

Everyone under the age of 20 had heard of the name, Johan Van.

His performance had a huge impact on them as well.

-[Official] 2027 Golden Boy Award, the winner is Premier League, West Ham United, striker Johan Van.

The Golden Boy Award considers a year’s performance, not just one season.

However, Johan didn’t need a year, not even a full season.

Half a season was enough.

Because that half-season performance was enough to overshadow all other competitors.

The winner of the 2027 Golden Boy was Johan, and the trophy went to London.

ㆍㆍㆍ

December 5, 2027, London Stadium.

Two days after returning from Old Trafford [Manchester United’s stadium], there is another game.

As it has been throughout this season, the London Stadium is packed with West Ham fans filling the stands.

However, today, the audience is particularly crowded in the lower stands.

Everyone is holding a camera in their hands.

Because, for them, a historic moment for the club was about to happen, one they wanted to capture on camera.

On the crimson track surrounding the ground below the stands.

In front of the players lined up for the start of the game, a player is standing on the track with the West Ham emblem drawn on it.

And a golden ball is handed to that player.

The player, dressed in training clothes, receives the ball and bows his head with a nonchalant expression.

Soon, the stadium announcer’s powerful voice echoed through the London Stadium.

“A shining golden ball! It’s not the Ballon d’Or, but it’s the moment when that golden ball, which can be seen as a precursor to the Ballon d’Or, is held by West Ham! 2027 Golden Boy, West Ham’s proud son, Johan Van!”

A huge cheer and a dazzling burst of camera flashes erupted.

Because of the flashes, Johan, whose eyes were already tired, couldn’t even open them.

“I’m so proud!”

“You are the pride and future of our club! Please play for us for a long time!”

“Stay with us until you receive the big golden ball, not the small golden ball!”

“Until the Ballon d’Or is in our arms!”

The winner is nonchalant, but the fans watching are deeply moved.

It was truly a touching moment.

West Ham had no real history with trophies, whether team or individual.

That’s why West Ham fans were so thrilled when Johan received the PL Player of the Month award last time.

But, the Golden Boy award…

The award given to the most outstanding young player in the entire world, not just the Premier League, had come into their possession.

This was an event that elevated the club’s status significantly.

The club’s status.

This soon translates to a solid foundation, and that foundation is built upon these trophies.

The foundation is strengthened when trophies, big or small, gradually fill the display case, and the club’s prestige grows.

Johan’s Golden Boy award was the first step.

Therefore, for West Ham fans, it meant more than just an individual award.

The fact that Johan received the award as a West Ham player meant that West Ham could become a club considered prestigious in Europe, and it gave them a dream.

Consider the previous winners and their affiliated teams:

-2024 Golden Boy Dimitri Volerovic (20 years old at the time, Juventus FC)

-2025 Golden Boy Fernando Viega (19 years old at the time, Real Madrid CF)

-2026 Golden Boy Florian Stauter (20 years old at the time, FC Bayern Munich)

But now, this line is added here.

-2027 Golden Boy Johan Van (16 years old, West Ham United FC)

While taking pictures of Johan holding the golden ball, the West Ham fans’ pride soared.

West Ham’s 16th-round opponent was Brighton & Hove Albion.

Brighton is a team that has been in the Premier League for 10 years this season.

They spent most of those 10 years below 10th place, but regardless, Brighton has become a team that is more suited to the Premier League than the Championship [the league below the Premier League in English football].

However, no matter how good Brighton is, they can’t compete with the current West Ham.

Because even teams that have won the league, not just stayed in it for 10 years, are being defeated by West Ham.

However, Brighton felt like they had won the lottery today.

It felt like the goddess of victory was on their side.

What that means is that the guy who was dampening their spirits with the awards ceremony before the game was not on the field.

‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’

The Brighton players who checked the starting lineup for today’s game cheered in the bus heading to the stadium.

Because Johan was not in West Ham’s starting lineup.

Yes, he can’t play in every game. Of course, he has to take a break in some games.

But, that game is against them.

They couldn’t help but feel like they had won the lottery.

I’m sorry to the opponents in the games before and after, but what can they do?

Since the opportunity has come to them, they just have to work hard to not miss it.

Therefore, from the beginning of the game, Brighton’s momentum was stronger than usual, and they began to put pressure on the home team, West Ham.

As expected, without Johan, the first half was unfolding like this.

If someone didn’t know the team well, they might say it doesn’t make sense.

How can the whole team be so much worse just because one striker is missing?

Johan doesn’t even participate in defense anyway, so how can the defense become unstable?

However, it is natural that all the gears don’t work properly if one gear is missing.

In particular, Johan was the biggest gear.

Of course, it is true that Johan does not actively participate in the game except for scoring goals, such as defending or pressing forward.

However, just by his presence, Johan makes the opponent’s defense nervous and forces them to play deeper.

Therefore, just by not having Johan, the opponent can press much harder, attack with confidence, and initiate more challenges.

The difference between having Johan and not having Johan is huge.

Brighton was demonstrating that perfectly.

“Hey! I came to see the Golden Boy! I didn’t come to see this kind of game!”

“Why are you wasting him on the bench? Put him on the field!”

As the frustrating flow continued, some spectators shouted at the West Ham bench.

Of course, as soon as that happened,

“Don’t say things you don’t know! He’s not being wasted, he’s being protected! He’s human, so he needs to rest!”

“Are you guys new fans? Cheer for West Ham! Cheer for the players who are working hard on the field!”

“We don’t want glory hunters [fans who only support a team when they are successful]! Plastic supporters, stay quiet!”

They were restrained by the long-time fans around them, but in fact, they were thinking the same thing.

They want to see Johan.

And that thought exploded in the 33rd minute of the first half when Brighton’s first goal was scored.

The London Stadium fell silent, and the Brighton players cheered.

They thought the game against West Ham would be difficult, but today they thought they could definitely win.

And,

That confidence fueled their subsequent play.

Brighton, with plenty of time, began to control the game comfortably.

Paang-

Paang-

Brighton slowly passed the ball around in their own half.

There’s no need to rush.

Since they have completely taken control of the game, they just need to maintain this momentum.

Therefore, Brighton continued to pass the ball.

But,

That was then.

“Waaaaah!”

The Brighton players frowned at the sudden cheers from the audience.

What is it? It’s not the right time for cheers.

They were just passing the ball normally.

Did some celebrity appear in the audience?

Some of Brighton’s players, drawn to the unexpected cheers, turned their heads.

And their eyes widened.

Also, their brows furrowed.

In the place where the cheers erupted, the Golden Boy was slowly running along the track, warming up.

‘This, this is not the time to relax.’

Just by seeing Johan start to warm up, Brighton, who had been taking it easy, started to sweat.