Lamine Yamal strengthened his reputation as one of football’s leading young talents by winning the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21 at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.
The Barcelona forward, 19, has now claimed the award for a third consecutive year, continuing an exceptional run of individual success. His latest triumph reflects his growing influence for both Barcelona and Spain, where he has become a key figure despite his age.
Yamal said he was delighted to retain the prize after collecting it at the ceremony.
“It is a great honour for me to be here today and to receive this award,” he said. “This is the third year, and I am very happy to continue winning these awards.”
However, the teenager used his speech to highlight the contribution of Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi, saying he had hoped the defender would be present and arguing that he should have won the award instead.
“The first thing I want to say is that I wish my team-mate Pau Cubarsi was here with us tonight, because I believe this award should have gone to him,” Yamal said.
“He truly deserves it. He has been performing at an incredible level for a long time, and I really wished he had been the winner of this award.”
Yamal also thanked Barcelona and Spain, along with the people who had supported his progress, while making it clear that he wanted to build on his achievements rather than celebrate them as an endpoint.
“I want to thank my club, my national team and everyone who has helped me get here,” he said. “Now I have to keep working hard and try to win more collective trophies and individual awards like this one.”
The Kopa Trophy follows a standout season for Yamal at club and international level. He played an important role in Barcelona’s successes during the 2025-26 campaign, helping the club win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
His performances were also central to Spain’s run to the 2026 World Cup title. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final to add another major international achievement to Yamal’s career.
The latest award adds to an individual record that continues to grow alongside Yamal’s contribution to Barcelona and Spain. His success has been built on performances in important matches, while his role in the two teams has also brought collective honours.
The accompanying schedule information listed Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026. It also listed Czechia against Spain in Nations League – Path 1 on 12 November 2026.
