Three Barcelona and two Real Madrid players are shortlisted for the Kopa Trophy

France Football has announced the nominees for the 2025 Kopa Trophy, with five players from Real Madrid and Barcelona vying for the award. The award recognizes the best young player of the year, and for the past four years, a player who has played in the Spanish El Clásico has won it.

The latest is Lamine Yamal, who has been nominated again this season, though he is also expected to be shortlisted for the Ballon d’Or. The young Spanish talent joins Jude Bellingham, Gavi, and Pedri as past winners of the award.

Three players who have played in the El Clásico are vying for the men’s category.

In the men’s category, Real Madrid newcomer Dean Huissen, who joined from Bournemouth for €60 million, is also among the nominees. He joins Lamine Yamal and Pau Kubalci in terms of La Liga representation, all three of whom share the Spanish national team’s dressing room. With Lamine Yamal a candidate for the main award, Pau Kubalci is considered one of the favorites.

Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain’s star duo, Désiré Douai and João Neves, are also strong contenders given their dominance in the Champions League. Rodrigo Moura (Porto), Miles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Ayoub Bouadi (Lille), Esteban Estebão (Palmeiras/Chelsea), and Keenan Yildiz (Juventus) are among the ten nominees.

Women’s Copa Trophy

On the women’s side, there are only five nominees, but Real Madrid and Barcelona make up a significant portion. Real Madrid has Colombian rising star Linda Caicedo in the running, while Barcelona’s Vicky Lopez is also nominated.

Their strongest contender is Michelle Agyemang, the England and Arsenal striker who made a significant contribution to her national team’s victory at Euro 2025. Claudia Martinez Ovando (Olympia) and Wieke Kaptein (Chelsea) are also on the shortlist.