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Marcus Rashford beaten to European Golden Boy award by Renato Sanches

Renato Sanches Bayern Munich v Rostov
Image: Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches has won the European Golden Boy award for 2016

Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches has won the European Golden Boy award ahead of Manchester United's Marcus Rashford.

The 19-year-old, who helped Portugal to Euro 2016 glory, will receive the award at Monday's ceremony in Monte Carlo after organisers Tuttosport announced him as the winner.

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Rashford, who burst onto the scene last season and scored in both his United and England debuts, finished second, while another Bayern star in Kingsley Coman completes the podium.

Sanches, who also completed a £27.5m move from Benfica to Bayern Munich, follows in the footsteps of previous winners Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney.

Renato Sanches is one of the best young players at Euro 2016
Image: Sanches was named the best young player at Euro 2016

United forward Anthony Martial won the award last season, while Paul Pogba was the winner the season before that.

The award has been to Old Trafford on three occasions with Martial following the successes of Rooney in 2004 and Anderson in 2008.

Sanches, who was also named the best young player at Euro 2016, was selected to win the award after a vote involving 30 journalists from newspapers across Europe to name the continent's best player under the age of 21.

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 20:  Marcus Rashford of Manchester United celebrates as he scores their first goal during the Barclays Premier League match bet
Image: Marcus Rashford finished second after his breakthrough season at Manchester United

Alongside Rashford, Tottenham's Dele Alli, Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi, Man City duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Leroy Sane and Chelsea trio Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Andreas Christensen and Nathan were on the initial 40-man shortlist.

Leicester City's Demarai Gray and Liverpool's Marko Grujic also made the cut of Premier League players, while Celtic striker Moussa Dembele was also on the list.

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European Golden Boy Award - Past Winners

Year Player Club
2003 Rafael van der Vaart Ajax
2004 Wayne Rooney Manchester United
2005 Lionel Messi Barcelona
2006 Cesc Fabregas Arsenal
2007 Sergio Aguero Atletico Madrid
2008 Anderson Manchester United
2009 Alexandre Pato AC Milan
2010 Mario Balotelli Manchester City
2011 Mario Gotze Borussia Dortmund
2012 Isco Malaga
2013 Paul Pogba Juventus
2014 Raheem Sterling Liverpool
2015 Anthony Martial Manchester United
2016 Renato Sanches Bayern Munich

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