What is the Kopa award at the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala: Complete list of nominees

The award, introduced in 2018 in the image of the renowned ‘Golden Boy’, organized by the Italian newspaper ‘Tuttosport’ since 2003, recognizes the best player under 21 years of age as of July 31, 2024, without distinction of championship or nationality.

Its name refers to Raymond Kopa, the first Frenchman to win the Ballon d’Orin 1958, and who, among other clubs, defended the colors of Real Madrid. It is awarded based on three main criteria: Individual performances of a decisive and impressive nature, team performances and achievements, and finally class and fair play.

How the Kopa Award winner is chosen

The winner is chosen by a jury made up of the winners of the Ballon d’Or. Each one chooses three players from a list of ten nominees established by the editorial staff of France Football magazine, creator of the ‘Ballon d’Or’ in 1956, editors of the French newspaper ‘L’Equipe’, the best jury of the previous edition and UEFA ambassador Luis Figo.

These award 5, 3 and 1 points to their favorites and the award finally goes to the player who scores the highest number of points. In the event of a tie, the players are separated by the number of votes for first place, and if the tie persists they are separated by the number of votes for second place. If the tie cannot be resolved, the editor-in-chief of France Football as organizer of the award would have the final say.

List of the ten nominees to win the Kopa Award

The ten candidates proposed by the editors of ‘France Football’ and ‘L’Equipe’ for the 68th edition of the ‘Ballon d’Or’ are, in alphabetical order of their surnames:

The Ballon d’Or 2024 and all the awards surrounding it will be awarded this Monday, October 28 at the Chatelet Theater in Pariswhich marks the 68th edition of the award created by ‘France Football’ magazine.