Nominees for World Cup Best Young Player Award

Following are the three nominees for the 2010 World Cup Best Young Player Award, who were announced by FIFA's Technical Study Group here on Friday:


Germany's Thomas Mueller celebrates scoring a goal against Australia during a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban June 13, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Thomas Mueller (Germany): Thomas Mueller's rapid rise through the senior football ranks has been nothing short of remarkable. A fringe player with his club, Bayern Munich, just two seasons ago, and with a first international cap coming only in March of this year (presciently, a friendly against Argentina), the 20-year-old striker has captured the imagination of fans everywhere with his pulsating approach play and vital goals (4) and assists (3).


Giovani Dos Santos (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Giovani Dos Santos (Mexico): Still only 21, Giovani Dos Santos is one of the most famous faces in the Mexico squad. "Gio", who played much of the most recent club season on loan to Turkish side Galatasaray, burst on to the scene aged 16 when he showed prodigious technique and vision in helping Mexico to victory in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru in 2005. The super-nimble young forward has become a key cog in the attractive Tricolor team and looks sure to be around for years to come.


Andre Ayew of Ghana (L) falls over Malyson of Brazil (R) during their FIFA U-20 World Cup final soccer match in Cairo October 16, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)
Andre Ayew (Ghana): The son of Black Stars legend Abedi Pele, "Dede" Ayew is used to living his young life in the footballing spotlight and he has handled the attention with great poise. He already became a world champion with the U-20s in Ghana last year. As an attacking midfielder, Ayew has become an important part of Ghana's playing system with a successful pass rate of 85 percent.

Source: Xinhua