Have a look at the top five favourites and potential players rankings to win the Kopa Trophy 2023 trophy
The Kopa Trophy, named for the great French attacker Raymond Kopa, is awarded each year to the top under-21 football player from the previous campaign.
Kopa Trophy 2023 nominees rankings list, favorites and winner prediction odds
The Kopa Trophy Award is one of the most esteemed awards given that previous Ballon d’Or winners select the nominees. The 10-player shortlist for the 2023 Kopa Trophy was announced by France Football on Wednesday, September 6. The list includes some of the top up-and-coming athletes.
1. Jamal Musiala
In 47 games across competitions, the attacking midfielder was at the top of his game for the Bavarians last season, scoring a record 16 goals and registering 16 assists. In Bayern’s championship-winning win over FC Koln on Matchday 34, the 20-year-old scored the game-winning goal.
At the FIFA World Cup 2022, Musiala proved a challenge for defenders as well. In three games, he only managed one goal, but he managed an incredible 19 dribbles, 13 of which were in the 4-2 win over Costa Rica.
2. Jude Bellingham
The 20-year-old central midfielder spent the 2022–23 campaign at Borussia Dortmund, enthralling spectators with his creativeness and flair for the extraordinary.
He made an appearance in 42 games for the team across all competitions, scoring 14 goals and dishing out seven assists. At the FIFA World Cup 2022, he also left his mark on England. For the Three Lions in Qatar, he started each of the five games, contributing a goal and an assist.
Bellingham has emerged as the most stunning player in Spain after signing with Los Blancos for a cost of $110.39 million earlier this summer. He had five goals in his team’s first four La Liga games, earning three Man Of The Match Awards and establishing himself as their top performer.
3. Gavi
The 2022–23 season saw Gavi, the Kopa Trophy winner from the previous year, play admirably, showing up whenever Barcelona needed him.
The Spaniard excelled on the left wing while playing, usually as a centre midfielder but also contributing many assists. Gavi participated in 36 La Liga games for the Blaugrana in the 2022–23 campaign, contributing two goals and four assists as Barca easily won the championship.
4. Elye Wahi
Elye Wahi, a player for France’s U-21 national team, had an outstanding 2022–23 season and was duly nominated for the 2023 Kopa Trophy Award. Montpellier’s star player, a 20-year-old centre-forward, led the team with 19 goals and six assists in 33 games across all competitions. He ended the season as the seventh-leading scorer in the league.
5. Eduardo Camavinga
For Real Madrid in the 2022–23 campaign, central midfielder Eduardo Camavinga was a lifesaver. When Ferland Mendy became injured, the Frenchman, who has spent his whole career as a midfielder, served without hesitation as a left-back. Even after Mendy was deemed healthy, coach Carlo Ancelotti continued to play him in that position due to his outstanding performance.
Camavinga participated in 59 games for Los Merengues in all competitions last season, making two assists in the process.