'I would like to know what he won': Barca legend slams organizers for awarding Bellingham Golden Boy

Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov doesn't believe Jude Bellingham deserves to win the 2023 Golden Boy Award which he received last week.

Speaking to Tuttosport, organizers of the award, Stoichkov hailed Bellingham as a top player before claiming he shouldn't have won the golden because he didn't win a trophy in 2023.

"I don't dispute Bellingham's value, he is one of the strongest talents in the world: he has a lot of class and a lot of brain. For me he is a mix between Laudrup, Kaká and the first Pogba. The future is his. He will fight with Mbappé and Haaland for the next Ballon d'Or," Stoichkov said.

"But I would like to know what he won in 2023 between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. Nothing.

"What success have all these goals brought to Real Madrid? You know well what my friend Mourinho would say about 'titles'... Shall we talk then about how last season ended Bundesliga? Borussia Dortmund had a two-point lead over Bayern with 90 minutes left in the championship.

"They were playing at home against Mainz, while the Bavarians were in Cologne. What happened with 5 minutes left? Tuchel introduced Musiala, who in the final stretch scored the 3-2 for Bayern while Borussia did not go beyond a 2-2 draw at home and goodbye to the title due to goal difference," Stoichkov said.

On who he prefers to win the Golden Boy, Stoichkov said: "Since Gavi was not eligible by regulation, he would have rewarded Musiala (Bayern) or Balde (Barcelona)."

We can tell that the former Ballon d'Or winner is still wearing Barcelona-tinted glasses. The award for Golden Boys is based on a young player's performance for the year and not just trophies. Bellingham checks every box.

Moreover, Jude already won the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards which is an even more prestigious award for young players.