Ballon d’Or 2023: Real Madrid’s Bellingham Claims Kopa Trophy Ahead of Musiala and Pedri

• Jude Bellingham's incredible season since joining Real Madrid continues
• The midfielder has clinched a plethora of awards since his major transfer
• Bellingham has been announced as the winner of the 2023 Kopa Trophy

Jude Bellingham has been officially announced as the recipient of the 2023 Kopa Trophy.

This prestigious accolade - reserved for the most outstanding footballer under the age of 21 - was presented to the Real Madrid midfielder during an extravagant ceremony held at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.

This announcement preceded the unveiling of the Ballon d'Or winners.

Since its inception in 2018, the Kopa Trophy has previously been claimed by talents like Kylian Mbappe, Matthijs de Ligt, Pedri Gonzalez, and most recently, Barcelona's Pablo Gavi.

Bellingham's triumph signifies his status as the best-performing young player at the moment. He outshone Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Barcelona's Alejandro Balde to win.

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The English midfielder has continued to experience a stellar start to life since completing his record transfer to Real Madrid, as reported by Whoscored.

Having claimed this honour, Bellingham will now set his sights on winning the Golden Boy Award - a prize organised by the Italian magazine, TuttoSport, as reported by Diario AS.

Bellingham's Real Madrid career

Bellingham's career at Real Madrid has been nothing short of remarkable. Since his transfer from Borussia Dortmund for a staggering €103 million, he has established himself as a key player for Los Blancos, scoring 13 goals and providing three assists in his first 13 appearances.

During his final season with the German club, he accumulated 42 appearances during the 2022-23 season and netted an impressive 13 goals. His exceptional performance in recent seasons has also earned him a spot among the top 20 finalists for the Ballon d'Or award.

Jude Bellingham's remarkable performance persists as he secures another award

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History's biggest Ballon d'Or 'robberies'

Sports Brief also reported on the decision to hold the 2022 World Cup in the 'weird' month of December, sparking unprecedented debate ahead of the 2023 Ballon d'Or race.

The World Cup is often a strong indicator of who will win, with Messi believed to be leading the race for the coveted gong, yet Haaland has since immersed himself in the debate.

There is no doubt the 2023 race to the top individual prize in football will be a heated one, but what are some of the most controversial Ballon d'Or decisions in awards history?