FC Barcelona continues to establish itself as a worldwide reference club when it comes to the young talents it integrates into its first team, who stand out enough to be considered, despite their young age, as candidates for important global awards. On this occasion, two names that could further enhance the reputation of the Blaugrana team are Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí.
Both young 'gems' from La Masia have been nominated for the prestigious 2024 Kopa Trophy, an award presented since 2018 by the French magazine France Football, which honors the top young talents under 21 and has already been won by two Barcelona players: Pedri González (2021) and Pablo Gavi (2022). This year, there is a serious possibility that the prize will return to the hands of a 'La Masia-made' player, as Lamine Yamal appears to be the favorite in this select group of young talents.
Lamine Yamal had a stellar debut season in 2023/24, establishing himself as the starting right-winger of the team after earning the trust of Xavi Hernández. In 50 matches, he scored seven goals and provided nine assists. He was also a key player as the starting right-winger for the Spanish national team, excelling in the Eurocup where he was crowned tournament champion, recognized as the best young player, and contributing with a goal and four assists (tournament leader). He has thus completed an outstanding season, in which he also broke several records.
Pau Cubarsí, the other young star shining at FC Barcelona
On the other hand, Pau Cubarsí is not far behind. The defender has joined the first team to lead, despite his youth, the Blaugrana's defensive line, accumulating 1,927 minutes of play in 24 matches. He has also been a fundamental pillar in the defense of 'La Rojita', which was crowned champion in the Olympic football tournament, playing five matches and totaling 411 minutes of play.
Additionally, he has established himself as an indispensable player both at FC Barcelona and in the national team, showcasing all the tools he has to start the ball transition from the backline, displaying himself as a defender with a clear defensive midfielder profile, without neglecting his defensive duties.
The 'top 10' nominees for the 2024 Kopa Trophy
| PLAYER | CLUB - NATIONAL TEAM | AGE |
|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal | FC Barcelona - Spain | 17 |
| Pau Cubarsí | FC Barcelona - Spain | 17 |
| Arda Güler | Real Madrid - Turkey | 19 |
| Savinho | Girona/Manchester City - Brazil | 20 |
| Alejandro Garnacho | Manchester United - Argentina | 20 |
| Kobbie Mainoo | Manchester United - England | 19 |
| Warren Zaïre-Emery | Paris Saint Germain - France | 18 |
| João Neves | Paris Saint Germain - Portugal | 19 |
| Mathys Tel | Bayern Munich - France | 19 |
| Karim Konaté | RB Salzburg - Ivory Coast | 20 |