Lamine Yamal Becomes First Player in History to Win Kopa Trophy Twice in a Row at Ballon D’or

In the brief history of the Kopa Trophy, Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal became the first player to win the trophy again.

Yamal achieved even greater heights last season after winning the trophy given to the best-performing male player under 21 in 2024 after a successful year with Spain at the European Championships. The Catalans achieved a domestic treble, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup at the cost of bitter rivals Real Madrid, thanks to the creative centre of Hansi Flick’s revitalised Barcelona team.

Despite his youth, Yamal played a key role in these victories, tallying 18 goals and 25 assists in all competitions. In addition to causing hard, cold facts, the 18-year-old made his fellow professionals feel extremely afraid.

Six Inter players were asked to choose their most difficult opponent of the season in the lead-up to the 2025 Champions League final. Yamal was selected by all six, who were dispersed over the field from goalie to striker.

Despite Yamal’s best efforts, Inter was able to eliminate Barcelona from the Champions League semifinals. Throughout the two-leg match, the squirmy threat dribbled 38 times, always getting past the Italian team’s defence. Raphinha, his opposite winger and another candidate for the senior Ballon d’Or award, attempted 37 dribbles during the 2024–25 Champions League season.

The Kopa Trophy is chosen by previous Ballon d’Or winners, however the ceremony’s main attraction was solely chosen by journalists. Yamal’s two Barcelona colleagues, Pedri (2021) and Gavi (2022), have both earned the gong, while Kylian Mbappé was the first recipient in 2018 after helping France win the World Cup.

Jude Bellingham raised the trophy in 2023, and Matthijs de Ligt won the 2019 edition, but until Yamal, no prodigy had ever won the prize twice.

In the upcoming years, Barcelona’s 18-year-old might win three or four times, but it’s obvious what his true goals are. Before this year’s ceremony, Yamal disclosed, “I told my friends, I don’t dream about winning a Ballon d’Or, I dream about winning many.”