Nominees for the 2024 Kopa Trophy Announced
France Football has announced the nominees for the 2024 Kopa Trophy, which honors the best under-21 player in the world. With several talented youngsters up for the award, it’s anyone’s guess who could win it.
The Kopa Trophy, introduced in 2018, was created to shine a spotlight on emerging stars who are still too young to compete for the Ballon d’Or. Kylian Mbappe took home the inaugural trophy in 2018, and Matthijs De Ligt followed in 2019, beating out the likes of Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix. The award skipped 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it returned in 2021 with Pedri as the winner, followed by his Barcelona teammate Gavi in 2022. Last year, it was Jude Bellingham who was crowned the best young player in the world.
It's clear that winning the Kopa Trophy is often a sign of things to come, as many of its past recipients have gone on to become some of the world’s best players. In fact, both Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are in contention for the 2024 Ballon d’Or. The latest crop of nominees also holds that kind of potential, and one name is already standing out: Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old winger’s meteoric rise has seen him become a key figure for both Barcelona and Spain, even winning the 2024 Euros. Yamal is the clear favorite to take home the Kopa Trophy this year.
But he's not the only one in the running. Real Madrid’s Arda Guler has also made waves with his performances for both his club and Turkey at the Euros. Over at Manchester United, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have caught the eye after breaking into the first team under Erik ten Hag. PSG’s dynamic midfield duo, Warren Zaire-Emery and Joao Neves, have enjoyed outstanding seasons as well, though their chances at the Kopa Trophy may be slim compared to the frontrunners. With so much talent on display, it’s set to be an exciting race for the Kopa trophy. The winner of this prestigious honor will be announced on 28th October, along with the crowning of the 2024 Ballon D'Or winner.
Complete List of Nominees for the Kopa Trophy
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Arda Güler (Real Madrid)
- Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
- Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
- Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
- Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg)
- Joao Neves (Benfica and PSG)
- Savinho (Girona and Manchester City)
- Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)
- Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Also Read: No Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi in Ballon D’Or Nominees for the First Time Since 2003
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