Evening Standard
·4 September 2024
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·4 September 2024
Lamine Yamal is the overwhelming favourite for the youngster award, having also earned a Ballon d’Or nomination for his Spain and Barcelona heroics
New Manchester City signing Savinho is also among the 10 players shortlisted for the prestigious individual prize from France Football handed annually to the best performing footballer in the world under the age of 21.
The runaway favourite for the award in 2024 is Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who smashed records by playing a key role in Spain’s run to Euro 2024 glory in Germany earlier this summer, despite only turning 17 the day before the 2-1 final win over England. He also earned a nomination for the Ballon d’Or award on Wednesday night.
Real Madrid and Turkey starlet Arda Guler is also vying for this year’s Kopa Trophy, along with Paris Saint-Germain duo Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel and Karim Konate of the Ivory Coast and Red Bull Salzburg.
Young stars: Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are the future for Manchester United
Manchester United via Getty Images
Elsewhere, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been nominated for Men’s Team Coach of the Year, along with Spain’s Luis de la Fuente, Carlo Ancelotti of Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and Gian Piero Gasperini of Atalanta.
England’s Sarina Wiegman and former Chelsea coach Emma Hayes, now in charge of the United States international side, are both in the running for the Women's Team Coach of the Year, along with Hayes’ Chelsea successor Sonia Bompastor, formerly of Lyon.
Also up for that prize are Brazil manager Arthur Elias, Washington Spirit - and former Barcelona - coach Jonatan Giraldez and Filipa Patao of Benfica.
Manchester City join Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund and Girona in the race to be named as the Men’s Club of the Year, with Chelsea vying with Barcelona, PSG, Lyon and NJ/NY Gotham for Women’s Club of the Year.
Last year’s winner Emiliano Martinez is once again nominated for the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, with future Liverpool signing Giorgi Mamardashvili also on the shortlist along with Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Gregor Kobel, Andriy Lunin, Mike Maignan, Unai Simon, Yann Sommer and Ronwen Williams.