Bayer Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez has sung the praises of Ibrahim Maza after the youngster finished ninth in the Kopa Trophy rankings at the Ballon d'Or awards.

Since joining Bayer Leverkusen from Hertha BSC in the summer of 2025, Ibrahim Maza has enjoyed a rapid rise, going from the 2. Bundesliga to finishing ninth in the voting for the Kopa Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award recognising the world’s best young player below 21.

Maza’s nomination for the award, which was won by FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, marked significant recognition for the 20-year-old, who is highly regarded by Bayer Leverkusen head coach Carles Martinez.

“I hope ‘Ibo’ wins the Ballon d’Or one day. A year ago, hardly anyone would have thought he would be there yesterday [Monday]. Nobody knows how life will unfold. The only thing that matters is that he continues to work hard," Martinez told Bild.

“He’s a top guy, and everyone likes him because he helps others and isn’t selfish. For me, that quality is the most important thing, both as a teammate and as a person. His talent gets a lot of attention, but we have to keep developing him and helping him improve.”

Maza’s performances have reportedly attracted interest from several top clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain. However, Martinez is refusing to get caught up in speculation over the attacking midfielder’s future.

“I’m not thinking about that. We’re very happy with him, and we want him to stay here for many more years,” Martinez said, commenting on the speculation surrounding the attacking playmaker, who is under contract with Leverkusen until 2030.