Savinho’s great year at Girona did not go unnoticed. He caught the attention of Pep Guardiola who wanted to take him to Manchester City and of France Football, who included him on the list of candidates to win the award for best young player of the year at the ceremony where the next Ballon d’Or will be presented.
The 20-year-old Brazilian is in the running with other players who, despite their young age, are already established in the top echelons of the sport. One of them is Lamine Yamal, from FC Barcelona, perhaps the big favourite after winning Euro 2024 with Spain.
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Also nominated for the Kopa Trophy are Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Karim Konaté (Red Bull Salzburg), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich), João Neves and Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG).
Nominated for the 2024 Kopa Trophy @OficialSavinho @GironaFC / @ManCity @CBF_Futebol #ballondor pic.twitter.com/ztxFu0m6a5
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 4, 2024
Last year, the trophy went to Jude Bellingham, who had shone in his first season at Real Madrid. The winner of this year’s award will be announced at the ceremony on October 28 in Paris.
The year of Savinho
Savinho had a dream year last season, becoming a key part of Girona’s third-place finish in La Liga and Champions League qualification for the first time in their history.
In March, he received his first call-up to the Brazilian national team and made his debut in the 1-0 victory over England at Wembley. Dorival Júnior called him up again for the 2024 Copa América and for the double date of the South American Qualifiers, although he was later excluded from these matches due to injury.
