Gavi succeeds teammate Pedri, wins Kopa Trophy as best U21 player

Paris, Oct 17, 2022 (AFP) - Barcelona and Spain midfield prospect Gavi won the Kopa Trophy for the best player of last season aged under 21 at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.

The 18-year-old, whose full name is Pablo Martin Paez Gavira, succeeds his Barcelona teammate Pedri, who won the prize last year.

Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs de Ligt are also former winners of the award which is named after former Real Madrid and France star Raymond Kopa.

Gavi, who has already won 12 caps for Spain, was picked by a jury made up of former winners of the Ballon d'Or itself.

Last month he signed a new deal at Barcelona tying him to the club until 2026 and with a release clause of one billion euros.