Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has etched his name further into football history by becoming the first player to retain the prestigious Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best-performing male player under the age of 21.
Yamal, who lifted the award in 2024 after helping Spain to European Championship glory, scaled even greater heights last season as the creative heartbeat of Hansi Flick’s rejuvenated Barcelona side.
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His brilliance was pivotal as the Catalans clinched a domestic treble — La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup — all secured at the expense of arch-rivals Real Madrid.
The 18-year-old winger contributed 18 goals and 25 assists across all competitions, but his impact went far beyond the numbers.
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His fearless dribbling, vision, and game-breaking ability struck fear into opponents. In the lead-up to the 2025 Champions League final, no fewer than six Inter Milan players, from goalkeeper to striker, all named Yamal as the toughest opponent they had faced that season.
At just 18, Yamal’s back-to-back Kopa wins underline his meteoric rise and cement his status as one of world football’s brightest young stars.
