Lamine Yamal wins Kopa Trophy for 2026, third year in a row
Lamine Yamal claimed the 2026 Kopa Trophy on 26 October 2026, becoming the first player to win the award three years in a row.
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the world’s best young footballer for 2026, marking his third straight year to claim the prize on 26 October 2026.
The 2026 award adds to Yamal’s previous Kopa wins in 2024 and 2025, and extends a rare run of sustained recognition for a player under 21.
How the Kopa Trophy is decided
The Kopa Trophy is presented during the Ballon d'Or ceremony and recognises the best player under the age of 21. The winner is chosen by former Ballon d'Or recipients.
Yamal finished ahead of nine other nominees. Among the contenders were his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi, Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain and Lenart Karl of Bayern Munich.
For Barcelona, the third consecutive Kopa for Yamal underlines the club’s production of elite young talent and keeps the spotlight on the Spaniard as he continues to develop at senior level.
Photo: press material from the event
