Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for a third consecutive year at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Monday, October 26, but said teammate Pau Cubarsí deserved the award instead.
The 19-year-old Spain international received the men’s Young Talent of the Year honour at the London Palladium Theatre before using his acceptance speech to praise the Barcelona defender, who was also among the standout young players during the season.
“I would have liked to see my team-mate Cubarsi here because I think this prize should have been for him. He deserved it. He has been playing at an excellent level for some time,” Yamal said.
He added that he was grateful to receive the award for a third time and thanked Barcelona and Spain for their support, while expressing his determination to continue winning collective and individual honours.
His tribute came after another productive campaign in which he helped Barcelona defend their La Liga title and continued to establish himself as one of the leading attacking players in European football.
Yamal scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists in 45 appearances for Barcelona during the 2025/26 season. In La Liga, he registered 16 goals and 11 assists, earning the league’s Player of the Season award after playing a key role in the club’s title-winning campaign.
His 16 league goals represented his highest single-season tally in the competition, while his 11 assists placed him among the league’s leading creators.
Barcelona also won the Spanish Super Cup during the campaign, adding to the team’s domestic success under coach Hansi Flick.
Cubarsí, meanwhile, established himself as a regular presence in Barcelona’s defence, making 48 appearances across the season.
The 19-year-old centre-back’s composure in possession and defensive contributions helped him emerge as one of the club’s most promising graduates from its La Masia academy.
Cubarsí was also nominated for the senior men’s Ballon d’Or, finishing 12th in the final rankings. His inclusion among the nominees reflected his growing reputation beyond the young-player category.
Yamal’s latest Kopa Trophy victory extends his run after previous wins in 2024 and 2025. He is the first player to win the award three times, having become its youngest winner in 2024.
The Kopa Trophy was introduced in 2018 and is presented by France Football to the best male player aged 21 or younger, with voting conducted by former Ballon d’Or winners.
Yamal also finished third in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé.
His latest recognition reinforces his growing list of individual achievements, while his public endorsement of Cubarsí highlighted the Barcelona teammates’ mutual respect after another successful season for the Spanish club.
