Kopa Trophy 2026: Maza reacts to a surprise from Messi! (video)

Nov 2, 2026

Young Algerian international Ibrahim Maza received a symbolic honor from football legend Lionel Messi. This recognition deeply touched him.

Recognition continues to grow for Ibrahim Maza. The Algerian attacking midfielder of Bayer Leverkusen recently learned that Lionel Messi ranked him highly in his vote for the Kopa Trophy 2026, which rewards the best young player of the year. This special attention filled the Fennec with pride.

In an interview with Sky Sport Germany, Maza revealed that he became aware of the news after his recent match against Stuttgart, while he was fully focused on his sporting responsibilities. “I saw the information recently, but I was focused on the match and didn’t want to be distracted by it at that moment,” he stated.

The Algerian international then wanted to verify this information before fully realizing its importance. “I wanted to make sure after the match that the information was accurate. I did check it, and I received some calls and messages. It’s a huge honor for a player of Messi's caliber to choose me and recognize my value,” he confided.

In his vote for the Kopa Trophy, which is part of the Ballon d'Or awards presented by France Football, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner placed Maza in third position, behind Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. The former ultimately won the award, while the young Algerian finished ninth in the overall ranking.

This recognition highlights the progress made by the Bayer Leverkusen player, who has excelled in both club and national team performances. It also echoes the encouragement from Ousmane Dembélé, who recently sent a congratulatory message to the young Fennec on Instagram.

Beyond his final ranking, Maza can take pride in having his talent recognized by some of the biggest figures in world football.

DZfoot