Lamine Yamal has won the men’s Young Talent of the Year award for a third consecutive year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, 26 October.
Barcelona confirmed the 19-year-old forward’s success after he also took the honour in 2024 and 2025. The prize was previously known as the Kopa Trophy and recognises the leading player under 21.
The result is separate from the men’s Ballon d’Or, the ceremony’s main individual award.
A third successive win
According to Barcelona, Yamal is the first player to win the young-player award in three consecutive editions. His earlier victories are also recorded in the award organiser’s winners archive.
The club said he contributed 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances during the 2025/26 campaign, when Barcelona won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Yamal follows other Barcelona winners of the youth honour, including Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022. France Football introduced the award in 2018.
London hosts the ceremony
This year’s ceremony is taking place at the London Palladium. UEFA’s official event guide identified Thierry Henry and Kate Scott as the hosts and listed separate awards for men and women, young players, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs.
The Ballon d’Or has been co-organised by UEFA and Groupe Amaury, the owner of France Football and L’Équipe, since 2024.
Yamal’s award was among the early results announced during the evening. Further winners will be reported as their results are confirmed.
