Ten man shortlist for ‘Mini Ballon d’Or’ named

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named by the prestigious France Football Magazine as one of the ten best U21 players on the planet.

For the first time, there’ll be a Mini Ballon d’Or awarded to the world’s best youngster, voted for by journalists at the publication and named the Kopa Trophy.

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Below, you’ll see the list of names in contention:

Trent Alexander-Arnold (England/Liverpool), Houssem Aouar (France/Lyon), Patrick Cutrone (Italy/AC Milan), Ritsu Doan (Japan/Groningen), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy/AC Milan), Amadou Haidara (Mali/Red Bull Salzburg), Justin Kluivert (Netherlands/AS Roma), Kylian Mbappe (France/Paris Saint-Germain), Christian Pulisic (USA/Borussia Dortmund), Rodrygo (Brazil/Santos).

If it wasn’t for Kylian Mbappe, Alexander-Arnold would have as good a chance as any.

But if ever a player was guaranteed to win an individual award, it’s PSG’s already world-class Frenchman.

In 2018, Mbappe won Ligue 1, but more importantly, the World Cup with France, scoring a lovely goal in the final, too.

He’s a phenomenon, although it has to be said was kept quiet by Andy Robertson during Liverpool’s 3-2 Champions League victory last month!

Four Liverpool players have also been nominated for the Ballon d’Or proper. Alisson, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah are all in the 30 candidates for the best player on the planet 2018.

We’d give it to Lionel Messi, personally, but think one of Real Madrid’s Champions League winners, probably Cristiano Ronaldo, will scoop the gong.

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