Yamal wins Young Talent award at 2026 Ballon d'Or as Spain dominate early honours

Lamine Yamal opened Barcelona and Spain’s account at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on Monday, collecting the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award — though the teenager suggested his club teammate Pau Cubarsi was more deserving of the honour.

Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente was also recognised early in the evening, taking the Men’s Coach of the Year prize after steering his country to the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Barcelona’s women’s side proved equally dominant in the early awards. Pere Romeu claimed Women’s Coach of the Year, Cata Coll was named Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, and Vicky Lopez took the Women’s Young Talent of the Year award — all three representing the Catalan club.

The Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award went to Athletic Bilbao and Spain stopper Unai Simon, adding to what was shaping up as a strong night for Spanish football across both the club and international game.

The ceremony featured 13 awards in total, with the headline men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or prizes — for which Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Alexia Putellas were among the leading contenders — still to be presented as the evening progressed.