The 2024 Golden Boy award voting has been hijacked by fans and a player valued at £5 million is currently in the lead

He is currently in the lead with 33.2 per cent of the vote.

A surprise contender is leading the race to lift this year’s Golden Boy Web award ahead of Lamine Yamal, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, amongst others.

Italian publication Tuttosport have shortlisted 100 young players for the annual best U21 player in Europe award, with 20 names being eliminated at regular intervals until October.

Unlike the prestigious Golden Boy Award, which was won by Jude Bellingham after he received a record-breaking 485 of a possible 500 points from a jury of sports journalists, this version will be decided by a fan vote.

The first round of voting was opened this week and unsurprisingly, fans have flocked to show their support for Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal, who continues to impress at Euro 2024.

At the time of writing, just over 55,000 people have taken part in the survey, with 20.8 per cent voting for Lamal.

Jude Bellingham reunited with his dad at Golden Boy ceremony
Credit: X/@BellinghamTime

But the teenage winger might struggle to catch up with German full-back Max Finkgrafe as he sits top of the pile on 33.2 per cent of the vote.

The relatively-unknown defender, 20, has been backed by thousands of FC Koln fans after he impressed for the Bundesliga side last season.

He made 24 league appearances for Gerhard Struber’s side, including 18 starts, and quickly became a fan favourite at the RheinEnergieStadion.

So who else was included in the vote alongside Finkgrafe? Kobbie Mainoo [13.6 per cent] and Alejandro Garnacho [11 per cent] feature in the top five alongside Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko [9.4 per cent].

Cristhian Mosquera, Kenan Yıldız, Arda Guler, Darío Osorio, Jack Hinshelwood and Carlos Baleba have also received votes.

Image credit: Getty

As mentioned earlier, Jude Bellingham lifted the Golden Boy award in December – and his win was thanks, in part, to Taylor Swift fans.

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde was initially in contention but his chances were scuppered for not being a fan of popular American singer-songwriter Swift.

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Balde is quoted as saying, “Do I like Taylor Swift? No, I don’t like her music”.

Spanish journalist Martin Manin claims that the left-back was winning the fan section vote ahead of Bellingham by 13 per cent but in a seven minute period, an insane amount of votes came in for Bellingham.