Lionel Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or on Monday night in a grand ceremony in Paris. Beside the Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy, Yachine Trophy, Ballon d’Or Feminin and Socrates Award were also awarded to some of the best performing footballers of last season. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham lifted the Kopa Trophy. Emi Martinez of Argentina won the Yachine Trophy. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati was awarded the Ballon d’Or Feminin trophy. Vinicius Junior won the Socrates award.
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Kopa for Bellingham
The Kopa Trophy is an award presented by France Football and is named after the late French footballer Raymond Kopa, the winner of the 1958 Ballon d’or. The award is presented to the best player aged 21 or less. Some of the best young players of football such as Pedri, Gavi, Mbappe and De Ligt had previously received the award.
This year’s Kopa Trophy was awarded to Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham. Bellingham had a good season with both England and Borussia Dortmund before completing his big money move to 14-time Champions League winners Real Madrid. The Los Blancos paid over 100 million Euros for the English midfielder in the summer and not without cause. The midfielder has scored 13 goals for Los Blancos so far in La Liga, providing three assists.
Yachine for Emi Martinez
The Yachine Award is awarded to the best performing goalkeeper. The award is named after former Soviet Union goalkeeper Lev Yachine. Since the award’s creation in 2019, the winner is selected by former Ballon d’Or winners. Allison, Donarumma and Courtois have previously won the award.
Emi Martinez of Argentina and Aston Villa won the Yachine Award on Monday. Martinez played an instrumental part in Argentina winning the World Cup. His stoppage time save from a Kolo Muani in the World Cup final is one of the instances where the goalkeeper has bailed Argentina out. The Golden Glove winner in the 2022 World Cup has added yet another feather to his already full cap.
Ballon d’Or Féminin for Aitana Bonmati
The Ballon d’Or Féminin honours the female football player deemed to have performed the best over the previous season. It was first awarded in 2018, with Ada Hegerberg of Norway becoming the inaugural recipient of the award.
Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí has grabbed the Ballon d’Or Féminin award. The midfielder won the La Liga and their second Champions League title, including a spectacular comeback in the final against Wolfsburg. The Spaniard has also achieved success with the national team, winning the World Cup for the first time and being named the tournament’s best player.
Socrates Award for Vinicius Junior
The Socrates award honours footballers who campaign for integration, climate protection, disadvantaged people or those threatened by conflict. Sadio Mane won the inaugural Socrates Award for his humanitarian work in his home country Senegal last year.
Vinicius Junior won the Socrates Award 2023 for his humanitarian effort to cater to the less privileged of society through quality education, medical aid and a better life.
