Spain and FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal made history at the 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, becoming the first player to win the Kopa Trophy for three consecutive years.
The 19-year-old phenom collected the award—presented annually to the world’s top male player under the age of 21—following previous victories in 2024 and 2025. Since France Football established the honor in 2018, no other footballer had ever won the prize more than once prior to Yamal’s unprecedented run.
Yamal claimed top honors ahead of a competitive pool of global talent that included his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí, as well as rising stars Ayyoub Bouaddi and Yan Diomandé.
The historic achievement capped an exceptional 2025/2026 season for club and country. Across 57 total appearances, Yamal registered 25 goals and 20 assists, helping FC Barcelona secure both La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, before playing a starring role in Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph.
”Winning this award for a third time in London is an absolute honor,” Yamal said during his acceptance speech at the ceremony. “I want to share this with everyone at Barcelona and the national team, especially Pau Cubarsí, who had an incredible year and deserved it just as much.”
Yamal’s third straight triumph also extended Spain’s dominance in the category, marking five Spanish victories in the last six editions following earlier wins by fellow Barcelona midfielders Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022.
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