Lamine Yamal is eyeing an historic double at the Ballon d'Or 2026 awards ceremony, having been nominated for the Kopa Trophy once again.

The Kopa Trophy, otherwise known as the Men’s Young Talent of the Year, is a prestigious individual prize from France Football handed annually to the best performing footballer in the world under the age of 21.

Yamal has taken home the prize in the last two years and is favourite to make it a hat-trick, thus becoming the first footballer to win this trophy on three consecutive occasions since its inception.

After a superb season with Barcelona, helping to retain the LaLiga title, Yamal played his part in Spain’s World Cup triumph, featuring in all eight games and scoring his first tournament goal in the 4-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, as one of the front-runners for the men’s Ballon d’Or award, it could be an unprecedented evening for the teenager in London.

Previous winners of the Kopa Trophy include Kylian Mbappe, Pedri, Gavi and England star Jude Bellingham, with the likes of Pau Cubarsi, Pau Cubarsi, Eli Junior Kroupi and Ayyoub Bouaddi all hoping to dethrone Yamal.

On the women’s side, Vicky Lopez was the inaugural winner of the award last year, and the Barcelona star has put forward a strong case to retain the trophy.

Her competition comes in the shape of team-mate Clara Serrajordi, Chelsea defender Veerle Buurman, Felicia Schroder - who has since moved to Real Madrid from Hacken - and OL Lyonnes midfielder Lily Yohannes.

Men’s young talent of the year nominees

• Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina and RB Salzburg/ Juventus)

• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco and Lille/ Manchester City)

• Pau Cubarsi (Spain and Barcelona)

• Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast and RB Leipzig/ Real Madrid)

• Lennart Karl (Germany and Bayern Munich)

• Eli Junior Kroupi (France and Bournemouth)

• Lamine Yamal (Spain and Barcelona)

• Johan Manzambi (Switzerland and Freiburg/ Aston Villa)

• Ibrahim Maza (Algeria and Bayer Leverkusen)

• Warren Zaire-Emery (France and Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s young talent of the year nominees

• Vicky Lopez (Spain and Barcelona)

• Veerle Buurman (Netherlands and Chelsea)

• Felicia Schroder (Sweden and Hacken/ Real Madrid)

• Clara Serrajordi (Spain and Barcelona)

• Lily Yohannes (USA and OL Lyonnes)

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