Raheem Sterling picks up award for best U21 player in European football

New haircut and now a new trophy for the mantelpiece

In midweek he rediscovered his goalscoring form and today Liverpool's Raheem Sterling has picked up one of the most prestigious awards in European football. Sterling has been given the Golden Boy award for 2014, the prize given to the best player under 21 according to a panel of football journalists. Previous winners include the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Cesc Fabregas. Sterling is only the second English player to get it, following on from Wayne Rooney, who picked it up in 2004. Almost all the previous winners have gone on to have stellar careers, with the only notable exception being 2008 winner Anderson. The jury remains out on 2010 winner, and now team-mate of Sterling, Mario Balotelli.

Congratulations @sterling31, who was today announced as the winner of the prestigious 2014 European Golden Boy award pic.twitter.com/v76Ab90KAk — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 20, 2014