flag
back Back
Lamine Yamal follows Spain's World Cup by winning the Kopa Trophy

Lamine Yamal is the world's best under-21 footballer for the third year in a row

Spain and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is hugged by president Joan Laporta

Barcelona's domination of the Kopa Trophy has continued thanks to the success of 19-year-old Lamine Lamal.

The teenager was voted as the 2026 winner of the Kopa Trophy, which acknowledges the best footballer in the world under the age of 21. His triumph was announced on Monday and followed back-to-back wins for fellow Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

Yama's win means that the Kopa Trophy is heading to the Camp Nou for the fifth time in six years, with Gavi and Pedri preceding Yamal as winners since 2021.

Lamine Yamal is the best young player in the world (again)

No club but Barcelona has had multiple winners of the award, which was first voted upon in 2018, and no country but Spain has had more than one winner.

Yamal is the only individual player with multiple wins and one of only four with multiple appearances on the podium.

The women's award was also won by a Spanish Barcelona player last year, when Vicky Lopez won the inaugural women's Kopa Trophy.

Many thought La Masia team-mate Pau Cubarsi was the closest challenger to Yamal this time. The young defender is going from strength to strength, establishing himself as a regular under Barcelona boss Hansi Flick and could reach more than 150 senior appearances before he turns 20 in December.

The Catalan teenager has already won back-to-back La Liga titles as a trusted Flick lieutenant, and followed Olympic Gold in 2024 with a vital contribution to Spain's World Cup win in 2026.

Cubarsi picked up the Best Young Player award at the World Cup this summer – but Yamal's status as the most exciting teenager in the world seems to have preceded him once more.

Pau Cubarsi was beaten by Lamine Yamal

Kylian Mbappe was the first winner of the Kopa Trophy, demolishing the field to claim the inaugural award in the wake of France's World Cup win in 2018. Matthijs de Ligt of Juventus won by a smaller margin ahead of Jadon Sancho and Joao Felix in 2019.

England's Jude Bellingham won the 2023 award while at Borussia Dortmund.

You may like

Harry Kane wins 2026 Ballon d’Or as Putellas claims women’s award

lagostelevision.com 13 minutes ago

Lamine Yamal Achieves Unprecedented Feat With 2026 Kopa Trophy

si.com 3 hours ago

Reactions as Konate Shares Instagram Photo of His Tackle on Yamal After Real Madrid El Clásico Win

YYNEWS 5 hours ago

Waka Waka: the full story of Shakira’s 2010 World Cup song

goalballlive.com 3 days ago

Barcelona Superstar Matches Lionel Messi’s Historic La Liga Record

Dailynewsupdates53 2 hours ago

As Lionel Messi stands aside, we ask: Who is the best player in the world right now?

101greatgoals.com 2 weeks ago

Cata Coll and Unai Simón win Ballon d’Or goalkeeper awards

ebnewsdaily.co.za 3 hours ago

BAR vs ALA: How Barcelona Could Line Up Against Deportivo Alaves In LaLiga Clash

Holuminee 5 hours ago