Bukayo Saka has been included on France Football’s 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy for the second successive year.
Named after the French footballer Raymond Kopa and selected by former Ballon d’Or winners, it has been running since 2018 and is presented to the best-performing player in world football under the age of 21.
The winger’s latest nomination comes off the back of an impressive showing for England at the European Championships and a stellar 2021/22 domestic campaign that saw him make seven assists and score 12 goals in 43 appearances for Arsenal.
While Saka is not the only Englishman on the list, he is the only Premier League player to be included this time around. When you consider the Gunners weren’t playing in Europa last season it’s all the more impressive.
🏆 Nominated for the 2022 Kopa Trophy…
This boy 🔥🔥🔥
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2022
This will be the fourth edition of the Kopa Trophy, the previous winners are Kylian Mbappe, Matthijs De Ligt and Pedri. The winner will be announced in October.
Congratulations, Bukayo.
France Football also confirmed the names of those who’d made the cut for the Ballon d’Or and the Women’s Ballon d’Or. Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead are on the latter.
2022 KOPA TROPHY NOMINEES
Karim Adeyemi, Borussia Dortmund
Jude Bellingham, Borussia Dortmund
Eduardo Camavinga, Real Madrid
Gavi, Barcelona
Ryan Gravenberch, Bayern Munich
Nuno Mendes, PSG
Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
Joško Gvardiol, RB Leipzig
Bukayo Saka, ARSENAL
Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen
He deserves to win, such class. Though I’d love it if he signed up for the next few years too, we need our lads to be with us for the long term.
Good luck to him, hope he wins!
Get top four and he will sign.
Ditto Saliba, et all.
Saka signing is not dependent on top four.
You spoke to him, tell us exactly what he said, please.
He said Saka said resigning wasn’t dependent on top four.
You said that he said Saka said that?
If Saka and Saliba play well, they will achieve top 4 and signing won’t be a problem for them. It is more in their own hands than you think.
SIGN DA TING
Checklist 2022/23
Those of you who think I’m leaving things to chance – I’m way ahead of you.
We won’t get 2 and 3 done, with getting 1 accomplished first.
So, let’s do this. 😊👍
COME ON ARSENAL!!
I hope we get 2 and 3 very soon. Next year it may be too late…
I was thinking they would both sign before the World Cup. You may be right. Confident Saka will sign, hopeful Saliba will sign.
* without
I wish there was an edit option!
Saka has done well. The other candidates play in leagues where there are only one or two good teams….. soooo
Saka is such a talent. I shudder at the thought of what he’ll be playing at in the next three to four years, if he keeps developing at this rate, he’ll be up there with the best in his generation. I hope and pray that will be at the Emirates.
*level he’ll be playing at…
Yet, there are still fans of Arsenal football club who do not rate him. Truth is, he is not flashy or electric like Mbappe or even Martinelli… and he has a lot to improve in the terms of shooting and consistency… But he possesses a footballing intelligence that you rarely find with kids his age. His strength lies in his ability to intricately link play with others around him. That’s why you see some of our best plays involve him and Odegaard. That style of play is not flashy, i think that’s why many “don’t really see the point of… Read more »
I don’t think that there are any Arsenal fans that don’t rate their Arsenal supporting, England International (at 18), 7 assists and 12 goals last season, Hale Ender since the age of 7 genius.
You would have to be especially stupid to not see the point of Saka…
And Arsenal player of the season the last two seasons…
It’s not hard to see what is his point. Requires watching a single match.
I think the target of this post is well below 1% of AFC fans.
I’ve never met one single Arsenal fan who doesn’t rate Saka, in real life or online.
Of course after a defeat, all the twats come out of the woodwork but most comments are made in the heat of the moment.
You only have to go back and read the comments here after the 1-2 at Goodison. How many wanted Arteta out.
Saka has a good chance of winning this time around.
Unfortunately I bet it goes to the player who plays for high profile Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Brilliant player. Brilliant kid!
Spoiler alert.
In all or nothing, Xhaka comes in to the gym, putting his red card on a poor pass by Saka.
The way Saka handled himself against a big character and a man who’s been a senior in the team for ages… just so bloody impressive. Love this kid.