That she was conquering the world, we all knew it. That she was going to get here so soon, few could have guessed. Kika Nazareth, Benfica’s young striker, is one of the 15 nominated by the Tuttosport newspaper for the first edition of the Chica de Oro award, the trophy that will choose the best Under-21 player in the world.
The winner will be chosen by a panel of 40 journalists. and, on October 15, the Italian sports newspaper will cut five names and will announce the final list of 10 finalists. In addition to Kika Nazareth, also Jule Brand (Wolfsburg), Esmee Brugts (PSV), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona), Kathrine Møller Kühl (Nordsjaelland), Sofie Bredgaard (Rosengard), Silvia Lloris (Levante), Nessine Bahlouli (Lyon), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Nicole Arcangeli (Juventus), Melchie Dumornay (Reims), Vicky López (Barcelona), Katja Wienerroither (Grasshopper), Mary Fowler (Man. City) and Anastasia Ferrara (Roma) were nominated.
✨???? Kika Nazareth nominated for the new Golden Girl Award!#EuAmoOBenfica pic.twitter.com/vbvvsVhp7z
— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) September 16, 2022
The Benfica striker is only 19 years old -she will turn 20 next November-, but she is already considered one of the main names in Portuguese women’s football, even being interpreted as the most talented player of the current generation of the National Team. Born in Lisbon, Kika started out in futsal at Os Torpedos and had brief spells at Casa Pia and Futebol Benfica before finally signing for the Reds. He scored 14 goals in 30 games for Benfica last season, having already won two Championships, two League Cups and one Super Cup. In the national team, he already has 20 international matches, he debuted in 2020 at just 17 years old and was part of Francisco Neto’s selection for the recent European Championship in England.
In the Golden Boy, the award that chooses the best Under-21 player in the world, Tuttosport revealed this Friday the penultimate cut in the nominees, now leaving 40 finalists. Fábio Carvalho, Fábio Silva, Henrique Araújo and Nuno Mendes are the four remaining Portuguese, Paulo Bernardo, Diego Moreira and Francisco Conceição were excluded. It should be remembered that Portugal has two Golden Boy winners: Renato Sanches, in 2016, and João Félix, in 2019. Last year it was the Spanish Pedri, from Barcelona, who took the award.
???????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ???????????? Kika Nazareth nominated for the new Golden Girl Award! ???? #VesteABandeira
Kika Nazareth nominated for the new Golden Girl Award! ???? #UseTheFlag pic.twitter.com/P8Rnjrfkvt
— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) September 16, 2022
Source: Observadora
