The Ballon d’Or ceremony took place on Monday night, 22 September, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, celebrating the world’s best footballers. While PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé was crowned the overall winner, his closest competitor, Lamine Yamal, also received recognition in a different category.

Lamine Yamal Wins U21 ‘Copa Trophy’

• Award: Copa Trophy (Best Under-21 Player)
• Recipient: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona
• Age: 18 years
• Award Presenter: French World Cup-winning defender Raphaël Varane
• Significance: Second consecutive win, making Yamal the first player to claim the trophy twice at just 18 years old

Yamal’s award reflects his exceptional performances last season, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists across 55 matches in all competitions.

Since the Copa Trophy’s inception in 2018, the first winner was French superstar Kylian Mbappé, followed by Pedri and Gavi of Barcelona. However, Yamal is the only player to have won it twice.

Women’s Young Player Awards

• Best Young Female Player: Vicky López, Barcelona (19 years old), recognised for her outstanding club performances last season
• Women’s Ballon d’Or Winner: Aitana Bonmatí, Barcelona

Key Takeaways

Despite missing out on the main Ballon d’Or, Yamal’s Copa Trophy win cements his reputation as one of football’s most promising young talents. Both he and Dembélé, alongside Barcelona’s women players, showcased the club’s growing dominance in global football.