In a thrilling announcement by France Football today, the shortlist for the 2025 Kopa Trophy, recognizing the world’s most outstanding under-21 footballers, has been unveiled. The ceremony will be held on 22 September 2025 at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet, alongside the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards.
On the men’s shortlist, ten dynamic talents are vying for glory:
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Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain), the previous year’s winner and standout performer with 18 goals and 21 assists in 2024–25. Aged just 18, he’s a household name after leading Barça to La Liga and Copa del Rey titles .
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Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona, Spain), joining as a promising teammate to Yama.
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Désiré Doué (PSG, France) and João Neves (PSG, Portugal), offering strong form from league champions PSG
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Estevão (Chelsea, Brazil), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid/Bournemouth, Spain), Myles Lewis‑Skelly (Arsenal, England), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus, Turkey), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille, France), and Rodrigo Mora (Porto, Portugal) round out the global mix
Also making history this year is the inaugural Women’s Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best female player under 21. The five nominees are:
Vicky López (Barcelona, Spain), alongside Michelle Agyemang (Arsenal, England), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid, Colombia), Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea, Netherlands), and Claudia Martínez Ovando (Paraguay) .
Why It Matters: Understanding the Stakes
The Kopa Trophy, named in honor of 1958 Balón d’Or winner Raymond Kopa, is distinct from the Golden Boy award—any eligible player worldwide can contend, not just those playing in Europe . The winner will be selected by a jury of former Ballon d’Or laureates and receives global recognition during the Ballon d’Or gala.
Lamine Yamal, the reigning champion, is a strong favorite for back‑to‑back success given his recent contributions and high visibility.
Barcelona’s youth pipeline is emphasized with two nominees (Yamal and Cubarsí), signaling the club’s continued investment in emerging talent.
PSG’s representation via Doué and Neves highlights the club’s depth and success, particularly following their recent Champions League triumph.
The inaugural female award underlines a growing commitment to gender equity in football recognition, with diverse nominees from Europe and South America 🇪🇸🇫🇷🇨🇴🇵🇾.
What Lies Ahead in the Ballon d’Or Race
While this is just one of several awards to be announced, the Kopa Trophy often acts as a springboard: previous winners like Kylian Mbappé, Pedri, Gavi, and Jude Bellingham went on to stellar senior careers. Today’s young stars aim to follow in those footsteps
Their performance in 2024–25 — from domestic leagues to international youth tournaments — will resonate with voters. The competition is shaping up to reflect global talent, gender inclusivity, and the next generation of football superstars.
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