Like many this year, this is a new award for the women’s side.
The Kopa Trophy is an annual football award for the best-performing player under 21. It was first awarded in 2018 and is named after French football legend Raymond Kopa, who won the 1958 Ballon d'Or. A jury of former Ballon d'Or winners selects the winner. The players must be under 21. This award aims to recognise youth excellence, consistency, and impact across the season.
Michelle Agyemang
At just 19 years old, Agyemang was instrumental in England's winning back-to-back Euros in Switzerland, scoring two crucial goals to keep them in the competition.
She scored a late equaliser in the quarter-finals, sending Sweden into extra time after only 10 minutes on the pitch. The side won on penalties.
Then, in the semi-final, she scored another equaliser against Italy with less than a minute of stoppage time remaining, revitalising England's hope of making the final.
She won the Young Player of the Tournament at the Euros.
It would suggest she is on this list because of her epic performance at the Euros, not her club football; she spent the season on loan from Arsenal to Brighton. She did earn the club's Young Player of the Year award, and in only three matches and 92 minutes, she scored two goals. Plus, who could forget that goal against Belgium? It was her second touch of the game, and 41 seconds into a senior debut, she scored.
Linda Caicedo
Caicedo had a groundbreaking season for Real Madrid Femenino. She finished with 13 goals and 10 assists, helping the team to a record-high of 76 points in Liga F.
A notable moment in her club season was assisting Caroline Weir’s goal against Barcelona to win their first El Clásico.
She also starred for Colombia at the Copa America, where she delivered many outstanding performances despite the team falling literally at the final hurdle in penalties against Brazil in the final.
Wieke Kaptein
Kaptein scored the only goal against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge this season and won the domestic treble with Chelsea.
In her first full season with Chelsea, she featured in 16 WSL matches and scored twice.
Vicky Lopez
Lopez was key in Spain's squad for their first-ever women’s Euros final. She also supported Barcelona in club football, where the Spanish side again won the Liga F title and reached the Champions League final.
She made 37 appearances, scored nine goals, and helped her club secure the domestic treble. She became the youngest ever scorer at the UEFA Women's Euros when she scored against Portugal in Spain's 5-0 win.
Claudia Martinez Ovando
Martinez Ovando is the only nominee who does not play in Europe; she plays in her home country of Paraguay and was featured in the 2024 Copa Libertadores Femenina.
She was a standout performer. She was the top scorer at the 2025 South American U-17 Championship, leading Paraguay to their first title in that age bracket with 10 goals. At the senior level, she delivered a hat-trick against Bolivia in the 2025 Copa América Femenina, becoming the youngest player in recent history to score multiple goals in a single match.
Add comment
Comments