Lamine Yamal makes Kopa Trophy history with third straight win at 2026 Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal makes Kopa Trophy history with third straight win at 2026 Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal has done what no young footballer ever has. The Barcelona and Spain forward was named the winner of the 2026 Kopa Trophy at the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on October 26, becoming the first player in the award's history to claim it three years in succession.
Record third triumph in London
Yamal, still only 19, collected the honour after previously winning in 2024 and 2025, completing a historic hat-trick of victories. Since France Football introduced the Kopa Trophy in 2018 to honour the world's best male player under the age of 21, no individual had ever won it more than once. Having first broken into Barcelona's senior side in 2023, Yamal lifted the award at 17, retained it at 18 and now secured it again at 19.
"Yamal was named the winner of the 2026 Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world's best male player under the age of 21, at the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony on October 26 in London," the report noted. "Having claimed the honour in 2024 and 2025, the Spain international became the first player to win it three years in succession."
He came out ahead of a field that included Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Yan Diomande, among other nominees. His performances across the previous season persuaded the voting jury to recognise him again, with his attacking influence central to his reputation.
The season behind the third award
Yamal's latest triumph followed a productive 2025-26 campaign with Barcelona and Spain, during which he contributed 25 goals and 20 assists across 57 appearances in all competitions. The winger helped Barcelona win LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup, while his international campaign brought further recognition after Spain's triumph at the 2026 World Cup. His season statistics included six yellow cards and no red cards, alongside three collective titles.
His style has remained a major part of his appeal, combining close control and electric dribbling with the ability to create chances and contribute goals. Those qualities have made him an important attacking presence for Barcelona despite his age.
Spain's dominance and a Ballon d'Or nod
The award continued Spain's remarkable recent record in the category. Spanish players have won five of the last six editions, with Yamal responsible for three consecutive victories after earlier wins by Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022.
Yamal's presence among the nominees for the senior Men's Ballon d'Or also placed him in contention for the ceremony's biggest individual honour. He was one of several players nominated in more than one category, alongside compatriots Cata Coll and Pau Cubarsi.
How he compares with previous winners
The Kopa Trophy was first awarded in 2018, when Kylian Mbappe won the inaugural edition, followed by Matthijs de Ligt in 2019. No award was presented in 2020, before Pedri collected the honour in 2021 and Gavi won in 2022. Jude Bellingham took the prize in 2023, before Yamal began his run of three consecutive victories in 2024.
His third consecutive win confirms that the young Barcelona forward has moved beyond being a promising newcomer. At 19, he has already secured three Kopa Trophies, domestic honours with Barcelona and a place among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or. The challenge ahead is to sustain that level as his career develops, rather than simply add another record to a collection already growing at an extraordinary pace.