Germany's Podolski Named World Cup's Best Young Player
July 7, 2006
Podolski may not have got his hands on the World Cup but he will move to new club Bayern Munich with at least one tournament accolade after being named Best Young Player at the World Cup by the 14 members of FIFA's Technical Study Group.
He beat off the challenge of Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, Lionel Messi of Argentina, Luis Valencia of Ecuador, Tranquillo Barnetta of Switzerland, and Cesc Fabregas of Spain to win the award which is presented to " the player born on or after Jan. 1, 1985, who makes the biggest impression at the FIFA World Cup."
Criteria for the award include "style, charisma, fair play and appetite for the game, as well as pure technical skill."
Podolski, who turned 21 on June 4, has three goals in six matches at the tournament and could add to that in the third place play-off match against Portugal on Saturday.
The new Bayern striker also came fourth in a fan-based poll on the official FIFAworldcup.com site.