FC Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. In response to the result, club president Joan Laporta urged the 19-year-old forward to use the ranking as fuel for future success.
Laporta Outlines Motivation Plan for Yamal
The voting outcome concluded a tight race at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony. Laporta addressed the result immediately following the gala, expressing confidence in the Spain international’s trajectory.
“I am convinced that he will eventually win the Ballon d’Or,” Laporta said. “I don’t know when, but he has proven he has what it takes to get it. We accept this result with fair play, like everything that happens in the sporting world, and this must serve as motivation for him. I am sure it will.”
“At the team level, this certainly will not have an impact, because all his teammates will help him quickly overcome this bad news. Together, we will help him be even more motivated to win this trophy next year,” Laporta added.
🏆🔵🔴 Joan Laporta believes Lamine Yamal deserved the Ballon d’Or and has called for Barcelona to rally around him.🗣️ “Lamine has sufficiently proven his merits to be the Ballon d’Or winner, but it couldn’t happen.”“We must now surround Lamine with love and support, for this… pic.twitter.com/ZC2XXN5Wya”
Kopa Trophy Hat-Trick in London
While Yamal missed out on the senior Ballon d’Or prize, the teenager secured the Kopa Trophy for the third year at the London Palladium ceremony. Having previously claimed the under-21 award in 2024 and 2025, Yamal topped a shortlist that featured club teammate Pau Cubarsí, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Real Madrid’s Yan Diomandé.
Yamal’s latest individual honor follows a trophy-laden campaign in which Barcelona captured the La Liga title and Spain triumphed at the World Cup over the summer. Despite collecting another under-21 crown, Yamal used his acceptance speech to highlight his teammate.
“I would have very much liked Pau Cubarsí to be in my place, my teammate,” Yamal told the audience. “He deserves it. He has been playing at a very high level for several years, and he deserves it. Third year collectively, I thank my club, my national team, and everyone who works with me to get a trophy like this.”
When ceremony host Thierry Henry playfully asked Yamal during the gala whether the under-21 prize was his ultimate dream for the evening, the teenager offered a lighthearted reply: “I want all the trophies… but I would have liked this one to go to Pau Cubarsi.”
Barcelona Dominates Youth Categories
The Catalan club’s youth pipeline retained a firm grip on both male and female accolades during the London gala. Alongside Yamal’s third Kopa Trophy, Vicky López secured the young female player of the year award, following Barcelona’s run to the UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
With Pedri winning the award in 2021, Gavi in 2022, and Yamal taking the editions from 2024 through 2026, Barcelona stands as the only club with multiple winners.
