Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Marcus Rashford are among favourites for 2017 Golden Boy award — but Renato Sanches is latest to see career seriously stall after winning gong

RENATO SANCHES joined Bayern Munich in a deal which could have been worth up to £80million.

However, his career has stalled so much in the Bundesliga, the German giants are unlikely to have to pay anywhere near that amount.

Sanches, 19, won the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2016, ahead of likes of Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford.

But, while the English duo continue to impress, the Euro 2016-winner's form has dipped dramatically and he is expected to leave the club this summer.

Sanches isn't the first Golden Boy to his career stall.

The honour has been handed out by since 2003 — and is equivalent to the Ballon d’Or for players under the age of 21.

So, is the award cursed? Here were take a look back at the all the careers of all the previous winners.

Rafael van der Vaart, Ajax — 2003

Youngest-ever player to captain a club until 2015 — and was tipped to be a star.

Despite a decent career, Van der Vaart probably expected to achieve more.

After leaving Ajax, he played for Hamburg (twice), Real Madrid, Tottenham and Real Betis, before moving to FC Midtjylland in the summer.

Wayne Rooney, Everton/Manchester United — 2004

What ever anybody may think of him, there’s no doubting his success.

Rooney has won five Premier League titles, a Champions League, is top goal scorer for England and four off achieving the same record at United. He is captain of his country and skippered club to FA Cup success.

Narrowly beat future team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after Euro 2004.

Lionel Messi, Barcelona — 2005

Erm…he’s not done badly, has he?

The Golden Boy award set the standard for Messi. He has since won the Ballon d’Or a record FIVE times.

The Argentine is considered by many to be the greatest footballer to have ever played the game.

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal — 2006

Undoubtedly a success — though it is up for debate whether that came with the Gunners or not.

Fabregas failed to win a trophy with Arsenal — while he filled his cabinet with medals at Barcelona, Chelsea and with the Spain.

However, on a personal level, he produced his best under Arsene Wenger.

Sergio Aguero, Atletico Madrid — 2007

Another whose success cannot be questioned.

Is a hero to all Manchester City fans for his last-gasp goal which clinched the 2012 Premier League title — and will certainly be remembered as an English football great.

Aguero was a star at Atletico, who could have moved to any club in the world.

Anderson, Manchester United — 2008

“How?” we hear you ask — well, believe it or not, there was a point where he was pretty good.

United thought they’d signed the best prospect in football when they paid Porto £20million for Anderson.

But, after a fairly bright star, he soon dipped in form, ballooned in weight and went off the radar. Currently at Internacional.

Alexandre Pato, AC Milan — 2009

At this point, his talent was unquestionable — he had ripped Real Madrid apart at the Bernabeu.

However, his form dipped so rapidly, he didn’t even make Brazil’s 2010 World Cup squad.

Returned to his homeland and then had a stint at Chelsea last season, but it was a disaster. Now at Tianjin Quanjian after a short spell with Villarreal.

Mario Balotelli, Inter Milan/Manchester City — 2010

How can someone so talented have achieved so little?

Balotelli had the world at his feet when he moved to the Premier League — and showed early flashes of genius.

However, subsequent failures at AC Milan (twice) and Liverpool have seen him given one last chance to save his career with Nice in France.

Mario Gotze, Borussia Dortmund — 2011

Once dubbed the most talented player to come out of Germany, Bayern Munich broke the national transfer fee to sign him.

Gotze even scored a winner in the 2014 World Cup final — however, it was by coming off the bench, as he had become just a squad player.

Returned to Dortmund last summer after an extremely underwhelming three-year stint in Bavaria.

Isco, Malaga — 2012

Real Madrid thought they’d bought the hottest property in Spanish football when they signed Isco a year later.

Again, he started well but struggled to nudge the likes of Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos out of the team.

The emergence of Marco Asensio at the Bernabeu appeared to suggest the end for Isco, but he stormed back and started the Champions League final ahead of Gareth Bale.

Paul Pogba, Juventus — 2013

French superstar famously left Old Trafford on a free transfer and blossomed into one of the world’s finest midfielders at Juventus.

In his four years with the Turin giants, he won the title in every season.

Pogba returned to United for a world-record fee but struggled in his first season.

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool — 2014

Had the world at his feet when he won this award — and then City made his most expensive English player of all-time at £49m.

Presumably burdened by the fee, he struggled at the Etihad, and carried his poor form through to Euro 2016.

After a bright start following the arrival of Pep Guardiola, Sterling's place at the Etihad is once again in jeopardy.

Anthony Martial, Manchester United — 2015

Frenchman arrived at Old Trafford for a mega fee — but very few people had ever heard of him.

However, Martial went from strength-to-strength after scoring on his debut, and sent United to the FA Cup final with a stoppage time semi-final winner.

But he was very poor last season and already faces a make-or-break campaign.

Renato Sanches, Benfica/Bayern Munich — 2016

He looked every bit the world beater as he made the move to Bayern in the summer.

But he just couldn't edge his way into Carlo Ancelotti's side and appears set to leave the Allianz Arena — although, possibly just on loan.

Sanches was even left out of Portugal's first Under-21 match of their European Championship campaign.

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