Matthijs de Ligt Names His Idol After Taking Home Kopa Trophy

​Juventus centre-back Matthijs de Ligt has named Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos as his biggest idol in football.

 The 20-year-old was awarded the Kopa Trophy on Monday to signal his status as the best young player in world football over the last year. He led Ajax to the Champions League semi-final, before sealing a blockbuster switch to Juventus during the summer.

Speaking to ​El Chiringuito after the ceremony, De Ligt did not hesitate to name ​Ramos as the player who he looks up to the most.

"Sergio Ramos is my biggest idol," De Ligt simply said, and that was by no means the first time he has heaped praise on the ​Real man in recent times.

Back in April, De Ligt hosted an Ask Me Anything session on Ajax's Instagram page (via ​Goal), and he was asked to name the best centre-backs in world football at the time.

I can name three defenders who are very good,” he confessed. “I think Sergio Ramos is a very good defender. ​Gerard Piqué as well, and of course my compatriot Virgil van Dijk.”

Real were even thought to be in for De Ligt during the summer, with the young Dutchman seen as a potential long-term replacement for Ramos himself. However, after months and months of speculation, it was ​Juventus who won the race for his signature.