Villarreal wing forward Samuel Chukwueze has the backing of Barcelona legendary forward Lionel Messi during the recently concluded Ballon d’Or Award where Messi was voted the best player in the world.
Messi in his vote for the Best U-21 player award picked the Nigerian as his third choice after the duo of Jordon Sancho and Joao Felix respectively. The award was however won by Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt during the recently concluded Ballon d’Or award ceremony.
It is the second global award that Chukwueze has been nominated for this year as he also made the shortlist for the Golden Boy award which was later won by Atletico Madrid forward Jaoa Felix. He is presently in the running for CAF young player of the year.
The Nigerian capped off a stellar breakthrough season at Villarreal with a goal for Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where he stamped his spot as first choice despite the avalanche of attacking options available to coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr.
He is widely expected to pick up the CAF Young Player of the year award although he is in direct competition with his Nigerian national team teammate Victor Osimhen and Borussia Dortmund Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi.
