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Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has become the first player to win the Ballon d’Or Men’s Young Player of the Year award for three successive years, following another outstanding campaign for club and country.
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The 19-year-old enjoyed a remarkable year, scoring 25 goals and providing 25 assists for Barcelona and Spain, while also winning the La Liga Best Player award and finishing as the league’s leading assist provider with 11 assists last season.
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Despite celebrating his historic third triumph, Yamal expressed his desire to see Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí win the prize, praising the defender for maintaining an excellent level of performance over an extended period.
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Barcelona celebrated a double victory in the young players’ awards at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, with Vicky López also claiming the Women’s Young Talent of the Year award.
October 27, (THEWILL) – Barcelona’s prodigy Lamine Yamal was named the 2026 Ballon d’Or men’s young player of the year for the third consecutive year in London on Monday.
Yamal became the first player to win the award three times in a row following an impressive year for club and country.
He enjoyed a stunning year for Barcelona and Spain, scoring 25 goals and recording 25 assists for Spain and Barcelona.
He also won the best player in the La Liga last season, finishing as the division’s top assist provider with 11 assists.
The award is given to the best under-21 footballer in the world.
He became the first player to win the award for the consecutive year in 2025, he has now taken it a step further with an unprecedented third straight title.
Yamal described his third award as an honour, while claiming that his club and country teammate Pau Cubarsi should have been named the winner.
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He said: “It is an honour to be here and receive this prize.
“I would have liked to see my teammate Cubarsi here because I think this prize should have been for him. He has been playing at an excellent level for some time.
“This is my third year up here for this prize. I would like to thank my club and my national team.
“Speaking about this one specifically, this one should have been for Curbasi.”
It was a clean sweep for Barcelona in the young players’ category as Vicky Lopez was also named the Women’s young talent of the year winner.
Similarly, Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, was named the coach of the year after leading the team to the 2026 World Cup.
In the women’s category of the award, Barcelona Femeni coach, Pere Romeu was honoured with the award after a stunning year with the club, winning all the trophies available.
Spain goalkeeper, Unai Simón, was named the men’s goalkeeper of the year, while the Women’s national team goalkeeper Cata Coll won the goalkeeper of the year in the women’s category.
Spain have now won the first six awards at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
