Lamine Yamal has been named the world’s best young player for the second year running after landing the Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or awards in Paris.
The teen sensation was instrumental in Barcelona’s success, winning the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup in the 2024-25 season. And he played a starring role in Spain’s triumphant run to glory at last year’s European Championship.
The world’s football elite were in attendance as Lamal beat competition from Barcelona team-mate Pau Cabarsi, Arsenal full-back Martin Lewis-Skelly and Chelsea’s Estevao. And he beat Desire Doue, who came second, to the award despite the thrilling season the France international had for PSG.
Lamal contributed significantly to Barca’s attack, bagging 18 goals and 25 assists last season – a total which was also the most in LaLiga. He set several records at Euro 2024, including the youngest player to appear in a European Championship final and the youngest-ever goalscorer at the tournament.
Here’s how the voting went in Paris…
Here is the 2025 Kopa Trophy full ranking!
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
1️⃣ Yamal Lamine
2️⃣ Désiré Doué
3️⃣ Joao Neves
4️⃣ Estevao
5️⃣ Kenan Yildiz
6️⃣ Dean Huijsen
7️⃣ Pau Cubarsi
8️⃣ Rodrigo Mora
9️⃣ Ayyoub Bouaddi
9️⃣ Myles Lewis-Skelly#TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/pYRe4DltsF
They’re three massive mountains to climb, but within a couple of years Lamal could add a Champions League title, UEFA Nations League and World Cup crown to his already impressive trophy cabinet haul. And who knows, he could upgrade his Kopa crown for a Ballon d’Or.
