Young Spaniard takes award.

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Malaga midfielder Isco has won the prestigious ‘Golden Boy’ award that is presented annually by Italian publication TuttoSport. The award is handed to the best player playing in Europe who is under the age of 21.

Isco accumulated 137 votes to win the prize, beating off competition from AC Milan’s Stephan El Shaarawy – who came in second with 125 votes – and Atletico Madrid’s shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, who came third with 116 votes.

Previous winners have included Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Mario Balotelli and was won last year by Borussia Dortmund starlet Mario Gotze.

Isco has been in impressive form at Malaga over the past year, helping the La Rosaleda side to clinch a Champions League berth and then leading them into the last 16 of the competition with comparative ease.

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