London's Palladium Theatre hosted the 70th Ballon d'Or football awards ceremony, organized by the French publication France Football. The central moment of the evening for the youth categories was 19-year-old winger of Catalan club Barcelona and the Spain national team Lamine Yamal, who was awarded the Kopa Trophy as the best young player of the year. This is already his third such award in his career, making Yamal the first and so far only player in the history of the award with three Kopa Trophies in a row.
Third Kopa in a Row — A Historic Result
The award, established by France Football, is traditionally given to the strongest player of the year in the under-21 age category. In 2024, Yamal lifted the trophy for the first time, solidified his status in 2025, and achieved absolute dominance in 2026, leaving competitors no chance. According to the organizers and multiple media outlets, no footballer in the award's history has ever achieved such a consecutive streak, making this London recognition truly historic.
A Season Without Weaknesses
The basis for this recognition is the recently concluded season, in which Yamal delivered top results at both club and international levels. As part of Barcelona, he helped the team win the La Liga championship and the Spanish Super Cup, while with the Spain national team, he won gold medals at the World Cup, where he was recognized as one of the tournament's best players. This combination of club trophies and World Cup gold made his candidacy for the Kopa practically undisputed.
London Instead of Paris
The location of the ceremony deserves special attention: for the first time in history, the Ballon d'Or was presented outside of France. London was chosen intentionally — in 1956, English footballer Stanley Matthews became the first winner of the award, and moving the event to his hometown became a tribute to this tradition. The ceremony took place on October 26, 2026, gathering key figures of world football, including the laureates and their loved ones.
Award Context and Main Prize
The Ballon d'Or remains one of the most prestigious individual awards in world football, and its 2025 recipient was PSG and France national team forward Ousmane Dembele. The record for the most awards still belongs to Lionel Messi with eight trophies. For Yamal, three Kopa Trophies in a row serve as a direct signal that he is the main contender for the senior Ballon d'Or in the coming years, and the London ceremony has only confirmed this status.
