Barcelona star becomes first player to retain young footballer award since 2018 introduction
PARIS, France – Lamine Yamal walked away with his second straight Kopa Trophy at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony, making history in the process. The Barcelona winger becomes the first player to win back-to-back awards since France Football started handing out the honor to the world’s best under-21 player in 2018.
Making History at 18
Here’s what makes this particularly impressive: no one had managed to retain this award before. Yamal only turned 18 in July, yet he’s already carved out a place among Europe’s elite young talents.
The fact that he won it again suggests this isn’t just a flash in the pan. One good season? Maybe luck. Two in a row? That starts to look like genuine quality.
“Winning this trophy again feels incredible,” Yamal said during his acceptance speech. “To be the first player to win it twice shows that hard work and dedication can lead to consistent success at the highest level.”
The Numbers Tell a Story
Yamal’s 55 appearances for Barcelona this season under Hansi Flick produced some eye-catching statistics. Eighteen goals and 21 assists helped Barcelona sweep up La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa titles, a domestic treble that seemed unlikely at the start of the season.
Those 39 goal contributions put him in rare company among European attackers. When you consider he’s doing this at 18 for one of the world’s biggest clubs, the pressure alone would crush most players his age.
His partnership with Robert Lewandowski and Pedri appears to have clicked immediately. Barcelona’s attack this season has been relentless, and Yamal’s creativity on the right wing has been a major factor.
Spain Calling
Club success is one thing, but Yamal has also stepped up for Spain. Helping the national team reach the Nations League final adds another layer to his growing reputation, though some might argue the competition wasn’t as strong as previous years.
Luis de la Fuente certainly seems convinced by what he’s seen. “Lamine possesses the technical ability and mental strength that defines world-class players,” Spain’s manager said. “His contribution to our Nations League campaign shows he can perform under pressure at international level.”
Whether he can maintain this form in a World Cup or European Championship remains to be seen. International tournaments have a way of exposing young players who aren’t quite ready for that level of scrutiny.
Barcelona’s Youth Factory
This win means Barcelona has now produced four of the seven Kopa Trophy winners since 2018. Pedri took it in 2021, Gavi in 2022, and now Yamal twice over.
That’s either excellent youth development or a sign that the award might have a slight bias toward La Masia graduates. Probably a bit of both, if we’re being honest.
“Lamine deserves this recognition completely,” Pedri said, congratulating his teammate. “His dedication and talent inspire everyone at the club, and winning it twice shows his consistency.”
The La Masia conveyor belt keeps producing talent, though not every graduate makes it at the highest level. Yamal appears to be one of the special ones.
More Than Just One Award
Yamal didn’t stop at the Kopa Trophy this year. He also picked up the Golden Boy award, the Laureus Breakthrough prize, and made it into the FIFPRO World XI.
Getting into that World XI alongside players like Messi and Mbappé is no small feat for someone who was probably doing his homework just a few years ago. The recognition from different organizations suggests this isn’t just media hype.
Still, individual awards are nice, but the real test will be whether he can help Barcelona compete for the Champions League and whether Spain can win major tournaments with him as a key player.
AFP
