For the first time ever, the gala for the Ballon d’Or will also include a presentation for the inaugural awarding of the Kopa Trophy — a prize given to the world's best under 21 player, so really just another Golden Boy because we really need more individual prizes in this sport, don’t we?
Regardless, the 10 finalists for the prize include:
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (20, Liverpool | England)
- Houssem Aouar (20, Lyon | France)
- Patrick Cutrone (20, AC Milan | Italy)
- Ritsu Doan (20, Groningen | Japan)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (19, AC Milan | Italy)
- Amadou Haidara (20, Red Bull Salzburg | Mali)
- Justin Kluivert (19, AS Roma | Netherlands)
- Kylian Mbappe (19, Paris Saint-Germain | France)
- Rodrygo (17, Santos | Brazil)
- America’s Own Christian Pulisic (20, Borussia Dortmund | USA)
If you want a favorite for the award, it’s Mbappe. The teenager won the 2017 Golden Boy by a staggering 142-vote margin, and he’s only followed that up by scoring 31 goals in 51 PSG appearances to go along with the small matter of winning the World Cup and being named the tournament’s Best Young Player.
Our nominees for the first ever Kopa Trophy!
Amadou Haidara / @RedBullSalzburg
Justin Kluivert / @OfficialASRoma
@KMbappe / @PSG_inside
@cpulisic_10 / @BVB
@RodrygoGoes / @SantosFC10/10 #kopatrophy pic.twitter.com/2NsJMHz2FE
— #ballondor (@francefootball) October 8, 2018
He could potentially capture every single vote for the Kopa Trophy, which is being decided by a jury of players who’ve previously won the Ballon d’Or, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zinedine Zidane, Franz Beckenbauer and Marco van Basten.
Still, it’s nice to see that Pulisic’s continued improvement (including 32 Bundesliga appearances, four goals and five assists last season) is being habitually recognized by his fellow peers.
Also, if you’re like me and want to see more of this 17-year-old Brazilian phenom named Rodrygo, here are some highlights. He’s as good as you might expect.
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