Kopa Trophy Rankings: Gavi Wins 2022 Kopa Trophy Award, Where Did Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka Finish?: Barcelona midfielder Gavi has been named the best young player in world football at the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The 2022 Ballon d’Or awards took place on Monday, and FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi surprisingly won the Kopa Trophy award ahead of Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, and Eduardo Camavinga. The award, which is organized by France Football, is given to the world’s best-performing player under the age of 21.
Jude Bellingham was down in fourth place on the list, which came as a big surprise to many after the midfielder’s world-class performances for Borussia Dortmund and England. The 19-year-old has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world, playing a starring role for both club and country. And he has also taken on a leadership role at Borussia Dortmund this season.
Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga finished second in the Kopa Trophy race, with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala coming in third place.
Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi finished ninth in the Kopa Trophy rankings after enjoying an excellent breakthrough campaign with RB Salzburg. His performances in Austria helped him earn a move to BVB in the summer.
2022 KOPA TROPHY TOP 10
1. Gavi, Barcelona
2. Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid
3. Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
4. Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund
5. Nuno Mendes, PSG
6. Joško Gvardiol, RB Leipzig
7. Ryan Gravenberch, Bayern Munich
8. Bukayo Saka, ARSENAL
9. Karim Adeyemi, Borussia Dortmund
10. Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen
Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller was nominated for the Ballon d’Or award for the first time in his career on the back of his incredible season with AFC Ajax. The 28-year-old finished 13th in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
The 18-year-old played 47 times across all competitions for Barcelona last season and won the Kopa Trophy for the most promising player under the age of 21.
After making the 10-man shortlist for the 2022 Kopa Trophy, Bukayo Saka has had to settle for an eighth-place finish.
Named after French legend Raymond Kopa and selected by former Ballon d’Or winners, the prize is awarded to the world’s best player under the age of 21.
Gavi was handed the 2022 Kopa Trophy award during the Ballon d’Or Gala which was held in Paris on Monday. The Barcelona prodigy was voted ahead of other talented players, such as Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavigna, for the finest U21 player’s prize.
The Spain international has stolen the limelight since he debuted with Barcelona last season. He is picking up the baton from teammate Pedri, who won the same accolade last season and became the first Spaniard to do so.
The 18-year-old midfielder has become a key player for both Xavi Hernandez and Luis Enrique in the Spanish national team. He has already played 60 games for Barcelona and another 12 for La Roja, where he has made history.
A month ago, the Catalan club renewed its contract until June 2026 and included a one-billion-euro buyout clause in the deal.
This trophy is named after the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner, French footballer Raymond Kopa.
The final Kopa Trophy ranking
The Barcelona midfielder was followed by Camavinga (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen).
It has to be noted that the winner of the Kopa Trophy is voted on by previous Ballon d’Or winners such as Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Mario Van Basten, Ronaldinho,
Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Luka Modric.
The Kopa Trophy was created in 2018 and it was not awarded to any player in 2020 as the ceremony was canceled due to Covid-19. Kylian Mbappe won it in its first edition followed by Matthijs de Ligt, and Pedri, who also received the Golden Boy prize last season.
This was the second year in a row that Saka was nominated. Last year, off the back of his eye-catching form at the European Championships, he finished sixth.
Even though he’s dropped a couple of places this time around, it’s no mean feat making the top 10 given he didn’t get a chance to shine in Uefa competitions last season. Last month, he was voted England’s player of the year.
Saka flew to the stud-studded awards in Paris with Arsenal Women duo Beth Mead and Viv Miedema who are up for the Ballon d’Or Féminin.
Gavi beat off competition from the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Jamal Musiala, and England duo Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to take the award – the second successive year it has been won by a Barcelona midfielder after Pedri claimed it last season.
