Lamine Yamal, the great jewel of Fútbol Club Barcelona, has shone again in Paris. The Mataró attacker received the Kopa Award at the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala for the best footballer in the world under 21 years old, thus revalidating the recognition he already obtained in 2024.
"At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal becomes the first player in history to win the Kopa award in two editions, and consecutively"
The milestone was even greater after his second place in the final classification of the 2025 Ballon d'Or was confirmed, only behind Ousmane Dembélé. A historic conquest that places Lamine Yamal in an unprecedented dimension and reinforces the prestige of the Barça academy, which had already seen Pedri (2021) and Gavi (2022) pave the way before his second Kopa award.
- Kylian Mbappé (PSG): 2018
- Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus): 2019
- Pedri González (FC Barcelona: 2021
- Pablo Páez Gavira, Gavi (FC Barcelona): 2022
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid): 2023
- Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona): 2024
- Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona): 2025
Since its establishment in 2018, the trophy had only been won by names such as Kylian Mbappé (2018), Matthijs de Ligt (2019) and Jude Bellingham (2023).
Lamine Yamal, 2025 Silver Ball
In the men's Ballon d'Or, Ousmane Dembélé has beaten Lamine Yamal driven by the great season with PSG, in which he won the League, the Cup and the Champions League.
Lamine Yamal arrived in Paris with the ambition of winning his first Ballon d'Or, after a dazzling emergence that has consolidated him as one of the most decisive footballers in the world.
And, although he has not finally achieved it, the second place is an unprecedented success in the career of the '10' of Barça. With 18 years recently completed, it seems only a matter of time before Lamine wins his first Ballon d'Or.
A meteoric career since his debut with Barça
Since debuting with the first team of FC Barcelona in April 2023, Lamine Yamal has not stopped breaking records. His impact was immediate: goals, assists and a personality unusual for his age quickly made him an idol of the culé fans. Today he is already the offensive reference of Barça and an indisputable piece in the Spanish national team.
This summer he inherited the number 10, a symbol of leadership in the history of the club, confirming the role that Barcelona has given him: that of natural successor to the great recent myths.
Collective successes that guarantee his award
Last season, the team led by Hansi Flick signed a state treble winning LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Yamal was decisive in each of these competitions, with decisive performances and a constant performance in matches of maximum demand.
Despite his youth, he also managed to get into the list of the ten finalists of the Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year, confirming that his progression points to the absolute elite of world football.
Lamine Yamal: from Golden Boy to global star
Last autumn, Lamine added to his record the Golden Boy awarded by Tuttosport, another award that underlines his international projection. Now, with two Kopa Awards, he becomes a pioneer of a record that until today seemed unattainable. His figure transcends borders and awakens admiration both in Europe and in the rest of the world.
Barça, for its part, sees in him the cornerstone on which to build a future of success. His renewal until 2031 shielded the footballer from the great European giants and allowed the club to project a sports plan based on his leadership.
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