The fabled Ballon d’Or ceremony has been expanded considerably in latest instances, with an array of various awards up for grabs.
The Ballon d’Or is handed out to the most effective male footballer on the finish of yearly, however we at the moment are blessed with the Ballon d’Or Feminin – the identical prize however for feminine footballers – and quite a lot of different high-profile accolades handed out to the most effective and brightest within the recreation.
One prize that has been dished out on the ceremony in recent times is the Kopa Trophy, with a few of the world’s trendy greats having claimed the person prize.
However what’s the Kopa Trophy? And who has gained it beforehand?
The Kopa Trophy has been awarded on the Ballon d’Or ceremony since 2018 and is claimed by the most effective performing male footballer beneath the age of 21. It may be gained by gamers exterior of UEFA competitors and leagues, which units it other than the Golden Boy award.
The Kopa Trophy is judged by a number of former Ballon d’Or winners, who will come to an settlement on the most effective participant beneath the age of 21 from the earlier season. In 2024, the award shall be attributed to the highest-level performer throughout the 2023/24 marketing campaign. It is introduced by France Soccer, who additionally hand out the Ballon d’Or.
The award is called after the legendary Raymond Kopa and there have solely been 5 previous winners after 2020’s award was cancelled as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
Raymond Kopa gained the third ever Ballon d’Or in 1958 and is a legendary determine for France, Actual Madrid and Reims. The ahead, who handed away in 2017, was probably the most esteemed footballers of the Fifties and Nineteen Sixties, profitable three European Cups and two La Liga titles with Madrid and 4 French top-flight titles with Reims.
He gained the 1958 Ballon d’Or for his performances for membership and nation, serving to France to a third-placed end on the World Cup that yr having already gained La Liga and the European Cup. He made 45 appearances for Les Bleus and was nicknamed ‘Little Napoleon’ by the Spanish press for his skill to command the ahead line.
There have been 5 completely different winners of the Kopa Trophy with gamers unlikely to win the prize on a number of events given the award’s age restrictions. Nonetheless, all previous victors have gone on to make fairly the splash.
Kylian Mbappe was the inaugural winner of the Kopa Trophy in 2018 having sparkled with Paris Saint-Germain. The Frenchman had already gained Ligue 1 twice earlier than claiming the accolade however nonetheless awaits his first Ballon d’Or crown. Certainly it is solely a matter of time.
Arguably essentially the most underwhelming winner of the Kopa Trophy got here in 2019, with now Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt claiming the prize with Juventus. It was, nevertheless, his performances in an Ajax shirt that caught the attention, with the Dutch defender having did not stay as much as his immense potential so far.
After 2020’s cancelled occasion it was a pair of Barcelona midfielders who scooped the subsequent two titles. Pedri and Gavi had been deserved winners in 2021 and 2022 respectively as they’d La Blaugrana supporters purring over the emergence of two Andres Iniesta regens.
The latest Kopa Trophy was gained by a 2024 Ballon d’Or contender, with Jude Bellingham incomes the title for his Borussia Dortmund shows regardless of Actual Madrid having grow to be his house by the point he claimed the award.
Each Kopa Trophy winner
|
Yr |
Winner |
Membership |
Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 |
Kylian Mbappe |
Paris Saint-Germain |
France |
|
2019 |
Matthijs de Ligt |
Juventus |
Netherlands |
|
2021 |
Pedri |
Barcelona |
Spain |
|
2022 |
Gavi |
Barcelona |
Spain |
|
2023 |
Jude Bellingham |
Actual Madrid |
England |
Ten glowing younger wonderkids have been nominated for 2024’s Kopa Trophy – which shall be awarded on 28 October – however it’s Barcelona and Spanish star Lamine Yamal who seems destined for victory. After profitable the Aim and Younger Participant of the Event awards at Euro 2024 en path to the title, the 17-year-old winger is a shoo-in to win.
Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi can also be within the combine, whereas Man Utd duo Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo and Manchester Metropolis winger Savinho are the Premier League’s representatives.
Karim Konate is the one nominee exterior of Europe’s high 5 leagues, though Joao Neves performed for Benfica throughout the 2023/24 season regardless of having since joined Paris Saint-Germain.
The total listing of nominees is as follows:
