Ballon d'Or: Gavi wins Kopa Trophy 2022

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Ballon d'Or: Gavi wins Kopa Trophy 2022

Barcelona midfielder Gavi has won the Kopa Trophy for his outstanding 2021/22 season.

The 18-year-old enjoyed an outstanding breakthrough campaign at Camp Nou, making 47 appearances in his first season in the senior squad.

Gavi contributed two goals and six assists for Barcelona, notably coming to the fore following Xavi's appointment as head coach.

The midfielder made his surprise debut for Spain in October 2021 and has now been capped 12 times by La Roja.

Gavi ousted competition from nine final nominees to take home the award. The other contenders were Karim Adeyemi (Red Bull Salzburg/Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax/Bayern Munich), Nuno Mendes (PSG), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkuen)

The 2021 winner was Gavi's current teammate Pedri, who similarly dazzled in Barcelona's midfield in a breakout year. He was not nominated for this year's award after spending much of the 2021/22 season injured.

The Kopa Trophy was first handed out by France Football in 2018, with Kylian Mbappe winning the inaugural award. The 2019 prize was taken home by Matthijs de Ligt, while the 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.