Yamal claims Kopa Trophy for third straight year and dedicates it to runner-up Cubarsí

Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for the third year running at the Ballon d’Or gala on Monday, becoming the first player to win the under-21 award three consecutive times. The 19-year-old Barcelona forward beat out his own Spain and club teammate Pau Cubarsí for the honour.

Yamal produced one of the most complete seasons of any player in world football in 2024-25, recording 16 goals and a league-leading 11 assists as Barcelona won La Liga for a second successive season. He was named the division’s player of the year and added six goals in the Champions League, where the Catalan club reached the quarterfinals.

His year was crowned at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Spain lifted the trophy with a 1-0 victory over Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final. Yamal’s contribution at the tournament was understated — he scored once, in a 4-0 group-stage win over Saudi Arabia — but he won a decisive penalty in a 2-0 semifinal victory over France. His participation had been in doubt after a hamstring injury in April, yet he made the 26-man squad and played his part in Spain’s second men’s World Cup title.

Despite accepting the award, Yamal was quick to redirect the credit. “I think this award should have gone to Pau Cubarsí,” he said on stage. “I think he deserved it the most.”

Cubarsí, who finished as Kopa Trophy runner-up, had his own standout tournament, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award at the 2026 World Cup. The 17-year-old centre-back has established himself as one of the most assured defenders in Europe at an age when most players are still in academy football.

The dedication underlined the bond between two of Barcelona’s most exciting homegrown talents, both of whom appear central to the club’s — and Spain’s — ambitions for years to come.