Nigerian duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi are among a 40-man shortlist for the 2016 Golden Boy Award.

The annual award was established in 2003 by Italian newspaper Tuttosport to reward the exploits of youngsters under the age of 21 who have excelled in a calendar year.

The winner will be picked after votes by a panel of journalists from around the continent.

Iheanacho and Iwobi will battle the likes of Dele Alli (Tottenham), Gabriel Barbosa (Inter Milan), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) and Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich) amongst others for the coveted prize.

Manchester United forward Anthony Martial is the current holder of the award while past winners include Wayne Rooney (2004), Lionel Messi (2005), Paul Pogba (2013), and Raheem Sterling (2014).