Lamine Yamal has made history at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony after winning his third consecutive Kopa Trophy. The Barcelona star also surprised fans by saying his teammate Pau Cubarsi deserved the award.
OFFICIAL: Lamine Yamal Makes History at the 2026 Ballon d’Or
Lamine Yamal has officially made football history after becoming the first player ever to win three consecutive Kopa Trophies at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The Barcelona superstar received the award in London on October 26, becoming the best young male player in the world for the third year in a row.
At just 19 years old, Yamal has achieved something no other player has managed since the award was introduced in 2018.
Yamal creates an incredible Ballon d’Or record
Yamal first won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 when he was just 17 years old.
He successfully defended the award in 2025 before completing an incredible hat-trick in 2026.
His historic achievement means he is the first footballer to win the prestigious young player award three times.
The Barcelona winger received his latest trophy from former Ballon d’Or winner Andriy Shevchenko.
He finished ahead of several talented players, including Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi and Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande.
Yamal makes surprising statement about Cubarsi
Despite making history, Yamal surprised supporters with his speech after receiving the award.
The Spanish international admitted that he would have preferred his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi to win the trophy.
Yamal praised the young defender for his excellent performances and said Cubarsi deserved recognition for his impressive level over a long period.
He also thanked Barcelona, the Spanish national team and everyone who had supported his career.
An unforgettable year for Barcelona’s young superstar
Yamal’s latest award follows another impressive season with Barcelona.
During the 2025/26 campaign, he scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists in 45 appearances.
His performances helped Barcelona win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
He also became a world champion after helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup.
With three consecutive Kopa Trophies at just 19 years old, Yamal has already secured a unique place in Ballon d’Or history.
And with several years of his career still ahead, the Barcelona star could continue breaking records in world football.
