‘Generational change’ as Alejandro Garnacho creates history with Kopa Trophy nomination, full award and nominee records

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Manchester United have two players nominated for the Kopa Trophy, and in doing so, Alejandro Garnacho has already made a piece of history.

FIFA announced last week Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are on FIFA’s 10-man shortlist for the Kopa Trophy, recognition of their blossoming talent.

We have everything you need to know about the Kopa Trophy, and why Alejandro Garnacho’s nomination in-particular is pretty special.

What is the Kopa Trophy

The Kopa Trophy is an award given to the world’s best young footballer age 21 or under. It was introduced in 2018, and any player across the globe can be nominated.

The Kopa Trophy is separate to the more well-known Golden Boy Award, which is only applicable to Europe-based players.

The trophy will be awarded as part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony on October 28.

Alejandro Garnacho first ever Argentine nominee

Alejandro Garnacho incredibly becomes the first ever player hailing from Argentina to be nominated for the Kopa Trophy.

Just by being nominated, Garnacho has created a piece of history. The Manchester United youngster is fully deserving of the nod.

Garnacho scored in the FA Cup Final for Manchester United, becoming the first teenager to do so since Cristiano Ronaldo. Mainoo followed minutes later.

He is also a Copa America winner, and provided his first ever assist for Argentina in their recent World Cup qualifier.

• READ MORE: Who is Alejandro Garnacho? Meet Man Utd’s dazzling Argentine

‘Generational change’ for potential Messi successor

Alejandro Garnacho’s nomination for the Kopa Trophy has some real significance in Argentina.

This is because 2024 is the first year in a generation that Argentina legend Lionel Messu has not been nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

Garnacho is already the most valuable Argentine youngster since Messi, and newspaper AS has noted the symbolism of the nomination.

“It is the confirmation of the generational change in the Albiceleste,” the outlet reports.

“Scaloni has gradually been cooking up his future star. Messi’s absence among the nominees for best player eighteen years later coincides with his debut at these prestigious awards. It is no coincidence.”

Manchester United nominee history for Kopa Trophy

One of Manchester United’s current players is a Kopa Trophy winner. New signing Matthijs de Ligt won the award in 2019, beating Joao Felix.

Garnacho and Mainoo’s nomination is incredible as they are two academy graduates and former FA Youth Cup winners.

But one Manchester United academy graduate was nominated before, with Mason Greenwood on the shortlist in 2020.

United’s most recent nominee was last season’s big summer signing Rasmus Hojlund.

Kopa Trophy winners

• 2023: Jude Bellingham
• 2022: Gavi
• 2021: Pedri
• 2019: Matthijs de Ligt
• 2018: Kylian Mbappe

Kopa trophy nominees 2024

• Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona/Spain)
• Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United/Argentina)
• Arda Guler (Real Madrid/Turkey)
• Karim Konate (RB Salzburg/Ivory Coast)
• Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United/England)
• Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain/Portugal)
• Savinho (Manchester City/Brazil)
• Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich/France)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)
• Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain/France)

Kopa trophy nominees 2023

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
• Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United/Denmark)
• Alejandro Balde (Barcelona/Spain)
• Gavi (Barcelona/Spain)
• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany)
• Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/France)
• Pedri (Barcelona/Spain)
• Xavi Simons (PSG/Netherlands)
• Antonio Silva (Benfica/Portugal)
• Elye Wahi (Lens/France)

Kopa trophy nominees 2022

• Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund/Germany)
• Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund/England)
• Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/France)
• Gavi (Barcelona/Spain)
• Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich/Netherland)
• Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig/Croatia)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG/Portugal)
• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany)
• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England)
• Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany)

Kopa trophy nominees 2021

• Mason Greenwood (Manchester United/England)
• Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England)
• Pedri (Barcelona/Spain)
• Jeremy Doku (Rennes/Belgium)
• Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax/Netherlands)
• Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany)
• Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen/Germany)
• Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund/England)
• Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/USA)
• Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain/Portugal)

2020 – No award

No award in 2020 due to Covid.

Kopa trophy nominees 2019

• Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid/Portugal)
• Jadon Sancho (Dortmund/England)
• Moise Kean (Everton/Italy)
• Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal/Nigeria)
• Kang-in Lee (Valencia/South Korea)
• Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus/Netherlands)
• Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid/Brazil)
• Kai Havertz (Bayern Leverkusen/Germany)
• Matteo Guendouzi (Arsenal/France)
• Andriy Lunin (Real Valladolid/Ukraine)

Kopa trophy nominees 2018

• Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool)
• Houssem Aouar (France/Lyon)
• Patrick Cutrone (Italy/AC Milan)
• Ritsu Doan (Japan/Groningen)
• Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/AC Milan)
• Amadou Haidara (Mali/Red Bull Salzburg)
• Justin Kluivert (Netherlands/AS Roma)
• Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
• Christian Pulisic (USA/Borussia Dortmund)
• Rodrygo (Brazil/Santos).