FP
Fakayejo Paul
FC Barcelona and Spain phenom Lamine Yamal has been crowned the 2026 Kopa Trophy winner (Best Young Talent Under 21) at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium.
The 19-year-old winger achieves an unprecedented feat by becoming the first player in football history to win the award three times in a row (2024, 2025, 2026), extending FC Barcelona’s historic dominance in the category.
Unprecedented Dominance & 2025/26 Feats 📊
- World Cup & La Liga Champion:Key protagonist in Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup victory in North America and Barcelona’s La Liga title run.
- Ballon d’Or Podium Finish:In addition to winning the U-21 award, Yamal finished 3rd overall in the main Men’s Ballon d’Or voting behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé.
- Voting Breakdown:Edged out fellow nominees Pau Cubarsí (2nd), Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Yan Diomande to claim the trophy.
Classy Gesture On Stage 💬
Upon collecting the trophy, Yamal used his acceptance speech to highlight his Barcelona and Spain defense partner:
“I would have liked to see my teammate Pau Cubarsí up here receiving this prize because I think he deserved it the most for the season he had. But it is an honor to be here again.”