Kopa Trophy 2025: Lamine Yamal, Désiré Doué, and Michelle Agyemang Lead Nominees for Prestigious Young Player Awards
The race for the 2025 Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young football talent globally, is heating up with standout nominees including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Paris Saint-Germain’s Désiré Doué, and Arsenal’s Michelle Agyemang. The award, presented at the upcoming Ballon d’Or ceremony, celebrates the brightest stars under 21 from both the men’s and women’s games.
As the prestigious Golden Ball event continues to grow, an increasing number of individual awards are recognizing exceptional performances across all competitions, highlighting the next generation of football’s elite.
Star-Studded Nominee Lists Across Men’s and Women’s Football
The nominees feature household names and exciting prospects plying their trade in some of the world’s top leagues and competitions, including La Liga, Ligue 1, the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and the Women’s Super League (WSL). Clubs represented include Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and more.
Men’s Kopa Trophy Nominees
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Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
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Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille)
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Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Estevão (Palmeiras/Chelsea)
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Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth/Real Madrid)
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Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal)
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Rodrigo Mora (Porto)
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João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Kenan Yıldız (Juventus)
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Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Women’s Kopa Trophy Nominees
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Michelle Agyemang (Brighton/Arsenal)
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Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid)
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Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea)
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Claudia Martínez Ovando (Club Olimpia)
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Vicky López (Barcelona)
Spotlight on Leading Nominees
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s prodigy who recently turned 18 and inherited the iconic No. 10 shirt once worn by Lionel Messi, played a pivotal role in helping the club secure both the La Liga and Copa del Rey titles in the 2024-25 season. Yamal aims to become the first player to win the Kopa Trophy twice, having won it previously in 2024.
Désiré Doué, a French international, was instrumental in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League triumph and is joined by Portuguese teammate João Neves in the nominee list.
Myles Lewis-Skelly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Arsenal, earning his senior England debut and solidifying his status as one of the Premier League’s most promising young midfielders. Estevão, the exciting Brazilian talent, has also moved to the Premier League, joining Chelsea in a high-profile transfer ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Women’s Game Highlight: Michelle Agyemang Shines
On the women’s side, Michelle Agyemang stood out for Arsenal and England, playing a key super-sub role during England’s victorious UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 campaign. Her crucial goals and dynamic performances earned her the Young Player of the Tournament award, cementing her place among the continent’s top young talents.
History and Ceremony Details
The Kopa Trophy has previously been won by some of football’s brightest stars, including Jude Bellingham, Pedri, Gavi, and Kylian Mbappé—all of whom have gone on to become global superstars.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday, September 22, 2025, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Organized in partnership with UEFA, Groupe Amaury, and L’Équipe, the event will celebrate the season’s most outstanding achievements across world football
