Lamine Yamal and Vicky Lopez win Kopa Trophy at Ballon d’Or 2026
Lamine Yamal and Vicky Lopez were awarded the men’s and women’s Kopa Trophies at the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony held at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26, 2026. France Football presented the awards recognising the top young players under the age of 21 for the year.
The Kopa Trophy, described as one of football’s most prestigious individual awards for young players, honours the best-performing player under 21 each year. Yamal’s season included being part of La Roja’s World Cup-winning squad, winning LaLiga with Barcelona and reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Lopez’s campaign saw her win Liga F with Barca Femení and lift the UEFA Women’s Champions League, the Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa Femenina.
Yamal became a three-time Kopa Trophy winner, securing the men’s award for the third consecutive year. A social media post read: "LAMINE YAMAL IS THE 2026 MEN YOUNG TALENT OF THE YEAR!✅ 2024✅ 2025✅ 2026 The Spanish wonderboy is unstoppable.#ballondor with @adidasUK pic.twitter.com/06xA9tnaS2"
Lopez claimed the women’s Kopa Trophy for a second straight year. A social media post read: "VICKY LOPEZ IS THE 2026 WOMEN’S YOUNG TALENT OF THE YEAR!✅ 2025 ✅ 2026Back-to-back winner. #ballondor pic.twitter.com/VvlQZuxA2D"
Ten players were nominated for the men’s award alongside Yamal, including club teammate Pau Cubarsí, Real Madrid’s new signing Yan Diomande and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery. The shortlist also included Ayyoub Bouaddi, Kerim Alajbegović, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Éli Junior Kroupi and Lennart Karl.
Five players were on the shortlist for the women’s prize; Lopez was joined by Barca team-mate Clara Serrajordi, Sweden’s Felicia Schröder, who now plays for Real Madrid, Chelsea defender Veerle Buurman and USWNT player Lily Yohannes.
Alongside the Golden Boy Award presented by Italian publication Tuttosport, the Kopa Trophy remains a recognised accolade for young players, and its rules permit multiple winners in a player’s career. For further coverage and updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, download the Khel Now Android App or iOS App, or join their community on WhatsApp and Telegram.
