France's Paul Pogba wins World Cup Young Player Award

France's Paul Pogba was widely touted as a young player primed for a breakout on the international stage, and he lived up to the billing in Brazil. Pogba, the

France's Paul Pogba was widely touted as a young player primed for a breakout on the international stage, and he lived up to the billing in Brazil. 

Pogba, the 21-year-old Juventus midfielder, was given the World Cup Young Player Award by FIFA's Technical Study Group, beating countryman Raphael Varane and Netherlands' Memphis Depay, the other finalists for the honor. Only players born on or after Jan. 1, 1993, were eligible for the award, and Pogba becomes just the second player to win it after claiming Golden Ball honors at the most-recent FIFA Under-20 World Cup (Yugoslavia's Robert Prosinecki is the other).

WC AWARDS: Golden Ball - Lionel Messi | Golden Glove - Manuel Neuer

Pogba scored one goal, assisted on another and played in all five of France's games, helping Les Bleus to the quarterfinals, where they fell to eventual champion Germany. He also maintained an 80 percent passing completion rate while patrolling manager Didier Deschamps' midfield.