Bellingham, Camavinga, Gavi: The 10 Kopa Trophy nominees ranked

Who was the best young player in world football in the 2021/2022 season?

That’s what the so-called ‘Kopa Trophy’ awarded at each year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony seeks to validate – with the prize going to the finest footballer on earth under the age of 21.

And tonight, the 10 nominees for the 2022 edition were announced.

We’ve decided to rank them from 10-1 based upon how well they performed last campaign and, in doing so, select who we feel should win the award.

The Croatian centre back was a mainstay at the heart of Leipzig’s defence last season, contributing two goals in the process.

Still just 20, that’s pretty impressive and his performances have suggested he has the minerals to go right to the top.

It’s no coincidence that Chelsea have been heavily linked with the star all summer – he’s top draw.

The fact Bayern swept up Gravenberch for a mere €18 million is pretty incredible because he’s proven an elite operator at Ajax over the past two seasons, playing over 30 Eredivisie matches in each.

There’s not much the Dutchman doesn’t have in his locker. He’s a physical presence, an excellent passer and can bang one from range for good measure.

Adeyemi notched 19 league goals for Salzburg in 2021/22 and on a further three occasions in the Champions League.

His impressive form consequently earnt him a move to Borussia Dortmund where they’ll be hoping he can fare as well as the last young striker they purchased from the Austrian club.

The Portuguese starlet spent last season on loan in Paris and impressed so much that he featured 39 times for one of the best teams in the world.

Unsurprisingly after getting so much use out of him, the Parisians decided to take him on permanently paying Sporting a fee in the region of