While Lamine Yamal may have been disappointed to miss out on the Ballon d’Or — with speculation swirling just hours before the ceremony that he would win — the Barcelona prodigy didn’t leave empty-handed.
The 17-year-old was awarded the Kopa Trophy for the best player under 21, becoming the first player to win it twice since its inception in 2018.
Yamal enjoyed a standout season, helping Barcelona secure a domestic double with triumphs in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
The electrifying winger scored 18 goals, including in three separate Clásicos, and provided 21 assists across 55 appearances.
On the international stage, he also played a key role in Spain’s run to the Nations League final, where they narrowly lost to Portugal on penalties.
His most memorable moment came in the semi-final, where he scored twice in a thrilling 5–4 victory over Ousmane Dembélé’s France.