The Kopa Trophy is a prestigious association football award recognizing the best male player under 21 years of age from the previous season. It’s presented annually by France Football during the Ballon d’Or ceremony and is named after the late French footballer, Raymond Kopa.
Many Barcelona players have won this award in previous years including the likes of Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine being the recent. When Lamine lifted the trophy in 2024, it felt like a glimpse into the past. A glimpse of the past in which Barcelona’s academy-raised stars would once again rule Europe. At just 17, Lamine became the youngest winner in the award’s history. As this season comes to an end, questions arise “Can Lamine do it again?”
A Season to Remember
This season Lamine was the heartbeat of Hansi Flick’s side, racking up an astonishing 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions. These numbers are simply beyond his age and comparable to greats. He played a crucial role and helped Barcelona win La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. He was equally important for Barcelona in their Champions League campaign. He was important for his national team, helping them qualify for the Nations League semi-finals.
A Rising Threat
While Lamine has been astonishing this season, another candidate for this award is Barcelona’s defensive anchor Pau Cubarsi who is another La Masia product who transformed Barcelona’s defense this season. He made his debut during Barcelona’s injury crisis and stepped up. Cubarsi has a cool-headed and tactically sharp personality. He is the ball-playing defender Barcelona craved for years. This season he was impressive with his partnership with experienced Inigo Martinez.
Cubarsi played an important role in Barcelona’s domestic treble which earned him a permanent role in starting eleven over players like Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen. His performances earned him a spot in the La Liga Team of the Season as well. He was also in the top five in last year’s Kopa Trophy rankings, a remarkable feature for a defender alongside flashy attackers.
History in the Making?
No player has ever won the Kopa Trophy twice. The award was initiated in 2018 and has been won by many including Kylian Mbappé, Gavi, Pedri, and Jude Bellingham. But none of them had the luxury to win it twice, especially back-to-back. If Lamine continues on this trajectory at the start of next season and with his national team, there is no stopping.
The Bigger Picture
The race between the two La Masia starlets speaks to why FC Barcelona’s academy is the best in the world, and how Johan Cruyff’s legacy is still relevant in modern football. While other clubs spend millions chasing big stars, Barcelona always finds themselves with the best talents in the world under one roof.
As the next edition of the Kopa Trophy approaches, fans, pundits, and journalists will judge and rank the players according to the criteria. The season in general for Barcelona was a success, but the award also depends on the start of next season. If Lamine and Cubarsi similarly start off the next season as this, the probability of winning would be much higher.