Manchester United youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have been nominated for the 2024 Kopa Trophy.
The Kopa Trophy is an annual award handed to the best football player in the world under the age of 21, as determined by the Ballon d’Or jury voting system.
Since the winner is picked by former Ballon d’Or winners, it’s considered to be one of the most prestigious and greatest honours a youngster can receive in their blooming career.
Unlike the Golden Boy which can only be won by a player within UEFA’s league system, the Kopa Trophy can be claimed by a starlet plying their trade outside Europe.
The Kopa Trophy is named after Raymond Kopa, who previously played for Real Madrid and France. Kopa won the Ballon d’Or in 1958.
Recent winners of the Kopa Trophy include Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Pedri.
For this year’s edition, Mainoo and Garnacho are in contention to clinch the accolade.
Nominated for the 2024 Kopa Trophy
Kobbie Mainoo @ManUtd @England #ballondor pic.twitter.com/2haEneQpT9
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Nominated for the 2024 Kopa Trophy @agarnacho7 @ManUtd @Argentina #ballondor pic.twitter.com/EH0dJxWqES
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Last term, Mainoo and Garnacho were two shining lights in an otherwise tumultuous and extremely disappointing Premier League season.
The two Carrington academy graduates cemented their respective places in Erik ten Hag’s team and played a key role for the Red Devils as they finished the campaign by winning the FA Cup against Manchester City. Both players scored in the Wembley final to sink Pep Guardiola’s men.
Mainoo made 32 appearances across all competitions and in that time, managed five goals and one assist. Meanwhile, Garnacho played on 50 occasions, registering 10 goals and half as many assists.
Mainoo was instrumental for England as they reached the Euro 2024 final, where they lost to winners Spain.
Garnacho enjoyed success with Argentina in the summer as they won the Copa America.
For either United star to win the 2024 Kopa Trophy, they will need to ward off stiff competition from the likes of Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Karim Konaté (RB Salzburg), Joao Neves (Benfica and PSG), Savinho (Girona and Manchester City), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich) and Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG).
Here are our 2024 Kopa Trophy nominees! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/4bkfIV7iaD
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
The winner will be announced in Paris on Monday, October 28.
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