Kopa Trophy: The Definitive Guide to Football’s Premier Young Player Award

The Kopa Trophy has quickly become football’s top award for young talent, honoring the best players under 21 years old.

Named after Raymond Kopa, the great French midfielder who won the 1958 Ballon d’Or, this award has shown it can spot future stars in the sport since it began in 2018.

Latest Kopa Trophy Winner (2024-2025)

Lamine Yamal<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> of Barcelona and Spain has made history by becoming the first player to win consecutive Kopa Trophies:

• 2024: Won at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest-ever recipient
• 2025: Successfully defended his title at age 18, establishing unprecedented dominance

This extraordinary achievement underscores Yamal’s exceptional talent and potential, cementing his status as football’s most exciting young prospect.

Complete List of Kopa Trophy Winners (2018-2025)

Notable Trends and Records

The award’s brief history has already revealed several interesting patterns:

National Dominance

• Spain: 3 winners (Yamal x2, Gavi, Pedri)
• Other nations: 1 winner each (France, Netherlands, England)

Club Supremacy

• Barcelona: 4 awards (Yamal x2, Gavi, Pedri)
• Other clubs: 1 award each (PSG, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund)

Age Distribution

• Youngest winner: Lamine Yamal at 17 (2024)
• Oldest winners: Bellingham, de Ligt at 20

Historical Milestones

• First recipient: Kylian Mbappé (2018)
• First consecutive winner: Lamine Yamal (2024-2025)
• Only year not awarded: 2020 (due to COVID-19 pandemic)

What Makes the Kopa Trophy Unique

The award carries distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other young player recognitions:

Exclusive Voting Panel

The Kopa Trophy employs a unique voting system that grants it particular prestige:

• All living Ballon d’Or winners comprise the voting committee
• Each voter selects their top three young players
• Points distributed: 5 for first place, 3 for second, 1 for third
• Tiebreakers determined first by number of first-place votes, then second-place votes

This system ensures winners are selected by those who have reached football’s absolute pinnacle, creating an unparalleled endorsement from the sport’s legends.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for consideration, players must:

• Be under 21 years old during the calendar year being evaluated
• Can play in any league worldwide (not limited to Europe)
• Performance assessed over the previous season
• No restrictions on nationality or club affiliation

Comparison with Other Youth Awards

Kopa Trophy Winners: Career Trajectories

Winning the Kopa Trophy has consistently indicated exceptional career potential:

Kylian Mbappé (2018)

• Inaugural winner at age 19
• World Cup winner with France (2018)
• Moved to Real Madrid after seven seasons at PSG
• Emerged as one of football’s elite forwards

Matthijs de Ligt (2019)

• Won at age 20 after captaining Ajax to Champions League semifinal
• Secured high-profile transfers to Juventus and later Bayern Munich
• Established himself as one of Europe’s premier center-backs

Pedri (2021)

• Breakthrough season at Barcelona earned him the trophy at 18
• Euro 2020 Young Player of the Tournament
• Olympic silver medalist with Spain
• Core midfielder for Barcelona despite injury challenges

Gavi (2022)

• Barcelona’s second consecutive winner at age 18
• World Cup breakthrough with Spain
• Career temporarily halted by ACL injury in 2023
• Youngest player to score for Spain in competitive match

Jude Bellingham (2023)

• Won at age 20 following stellar performances at Borussia Dortmund
• Secured high-profile transfer to Real Madrid
• Immediate impact at Madrid with unprecedented goalscoring form
• Central figure in England’s Euro 2024 campaign

Lamine Yamal (2024-2025)

• Made history as youngest winner at 17, then first back-to-back recipient
• Euro 2024 breakthrough with Spain
• Youngest player to score in a European Championship
• Barcelona’s crown jewel despite his adolescent age

The Award’s Significance and Future

The Kopa Trophy has rapidly evolved into much more than a subsidiary recognition:

Talent Identification

• Serves as a reliable indicator of players who will define football’s next decade
• Winners have consistently validated their potential through subsequent achievements
• Creates a roadmap of development for aspiring young players

Barcelona’s Youth Academy Excellence

• Four Kopa Trophies for La Masia graduates demonstrates the academy’s continued excellence
• Reinforces Barcelona’s commitment to developing rather than purchasing talent
• Positions the club as football’s premier talent incubator despite financial challenges

Spanish Football’s Renaissance

• Three Spanish winners (Yamal, Gavi, Pedri) reflect a new golden generation emerging
• Follows the transitional period after the legendary 2008-2012 era
• Suggests Spain’s methodical approach to youth development continues to bear fruit

FAQs

How is the Kopa Trophy different from the Golden Boy award?

Both honor players under 21, but the Kopa Trophy is voted on by former Ballon d’Or winners and looks at players worldwide. The Golden Boy, started in 2003 by Italian newspaper Tuttosport, is picked by sports writers and only looks at players in European leagues.

Can a player win the Kopa Trophy multiple times?

Yes, as shown by Lamine Yamal winning back-to-back in 2024 and 2025. Players can win as long as they’re under 21 during the judging period. In theory, a player could win up to four times if they started playing pro at 17.

Why is the award named after Raymond Kopa?

The trophy honors Raymond Kopa, the legendary French attacking midfielder who won the Ballon d’Or in 1958 while playing for Real Madrid. Kopa was known for his great skill, vision, and dribbling, making him a perfect namesake for an award celebrating young talent.

What happens if there’s a tie in the voting?

If points are tied, winners are decided by who got more first-place votes. If still tied, second-place votes are counted. This system makes sure that players who get stronger backing from more voters win.

Has any player won both the Kopa Trophy and Ballon d’Or?

Not yet, though Kylian Mbappé has come closest, finishing in the top three of Ballon d’Or voting many times after winning the first Kopa Trophy. Recent winners suggest this milestone could happen soon.

Will the Kopa Trophy eventually include a women’s category?

While no official announcement has been made, France Football started the women’s Ballon d’Or in 2018 (the same year as the Kopa Trophy), suggesting a female version might come. For now, young female players can only win through the main women’s Ballon d’Or.