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In all of the hysteria of the Ballon d’Or, it could possibly typically be simple to overlook the award’s child brother – the Kopa trophy.
Handed out to one of the best participant underneath the age of 21 in world soccer, with the triumphant prodigy chosen by former Ballon d’Or winners, the Kopa Trophy rewards the planet’s most impactful wonderkids.
This 12 months’s award was gained by Actual Madrid starlet Jude Bellingham, with nominees together with the likes of Jamal Musiala, Pedri and Rasmus Hojlund.
With various the 2023 Kopa Trophy nominees unable to win subsequent 12 months given they are going to be aged out of rivalry, who might win the 2024 award?
Disregarding any gamers who’re at present 20 or over, Giorgio Scalvini could possibly be one of many few centre-backs within the operating for the 2024 Kopa Trophy. Solely as soon as has a defender gained the award since its inception in 2018 – Matthijs De Ligt after his performances with Ajax and Juventus in 2019.
The Atalanta teen has been spectacular since breaking into Gian Piero Gasperini’s aspect and has been rewarded with seven senior caps for the Italian nationwide crew, going through England just lately in Euro 2024 qualifying.
The 19-year-old has been praised for his composure and perspective at such a younger age, however, let’s be trustworthy, these awards usually favour attacking gamers.
Arthur Vermeeren’s visibility for such an accolade relies upon virtually completely on him making a transfer to considered one of Europe’s elite in January, or on the newest subsequent summer time.
The Belgian holding midfielder has been linked with virtually each high membership, with Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis and Barcelona all touted with an curiosity within the Royal Antwerp teen.
At simply 18 years outdated, Vermeeren has already amassed 53 appearances for final season’s Jupiler Professional League title winners, in addition to incomes his first Belgium cap earlier this marketing campaign.
Vermeeren can also be the third youngest participant to provide two or extra assists in a Champions League sport within the competitors’s historical past, doing so in a 3-2 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk.
As Romeo Lavia nears his first Chelsea look, it could appear loopy to place him in line for subsequent season’s Kopa Trophy. Nonetheless, it is simple to overlook simply how spectacular the Belgian was at Southampton final season and he might proceed to blossom underneath Mauricio Pochettino when match.
The 19-year-old nonetheless has roughly a 12 months to place his identify in rivalry to succeed Bellingham on the 2024 ceremony, however he wants some common minutes underneath his belt this season.
The one factor standing in Mathys Tel’s path is a sure Harry Kane. The 18-year-old has needed to act because the England captain’s understudy this season, however the former Tottenham Hotspur man just isn’t a nasty quantity 9 to study from.
Tel has been electrical when approaching as an excellent sub this season, scoring six targets regardless of beginning on simply three events.
The French ahead has all of the attributes wanted to turn out to be a world-beater with Bayern Munich, racking up 43 appearances already for the Bavarians, however he may have somewhat extra time within the beginning lineup to grasp his potential.
The Brighton centre-forward has been a breath of contemporary air within the Premier League, one other wonderkid that the Seagulls have plucked from skinny air.
The Irish striker already has 19 objective contributions for the south coast aspect and is now having fun with Europa League soccer and common begins within the English high flight.
Ferguson has additionally been linked with extra ‘glamorous’ strikes to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, maybe thrusting him additional into the limelight and capturing the eye of these Ballon d’Or-winning judges.
It has been a meteoric rise to fame at Barcelona for 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, bursting onto the scene in Catalonia with some eye-catching performances.
Yamal has loads of alternatives to win the award within the coming years however might turn out to be the youngest participant to take action in 2024. The speedy winger is pure field workplace and displays precisely the sort of qualities that are likely to curry favour on awards evening.
The Spaniard, who turned the youngest participant to characteristic and rating for his nation earlier this 12 months, has already made 14 appearances for Xavi’s aspect this season, with many extra outings to come back.
For all of the superstars that Paris Saint-Germain have purchased in recent times for eye-watering sums, they do not half produce some world-class expertise within the French capital.
The most recent off the conveyor belt is Warren Zaire-Emery, who already feels as if he is been round for fairly a while regardless of being simply 17 years outdated. That is in all probability as a result of he’s quickly approaching half a century of appearances for PSG and continues to thrive underneath Luis Enrique this season.
Very similar to Yamal, Zaire-Emery has loads of time to assert at the least one Kopa Trophy, however there may be little to recommend he could not achieve this subsequent winter.
The one member of this 12 months’s nominees capable of win the award subsequent 12 months is Gavi. The Barcelona prodigy completed fifth within the rankings however is prone to end a lot greater in 2024.
The 19-year-old has been in good type this season, placing in an exquisite show in El Clasico in opposition to Actual Madrid just lately, and continues to thrive for the Catalan giants.
The Masia product is considered one of various midfielders who could possibly be up for subsequent 12 months’s Kopa Trophy, however he already has the expertise of a participant method past his years.
Good luck stopping Gavi in 2024.
READ MORE ON THE 2023 BALLON D’OR WINNERS
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