Ballon d'Or 2026: Lamine Yamal claims Barcelona teammate should have won Kopa Trophy instead of him

By Ben Sully | 27 Oct 2026 01:05, Last updated: 27 Oct 2026 01:34

Barcelona prima Lamine Yamal has claimed his teammate Pau Cubarsi should person won the Kopa Trophy alternatively of him.

Yamal made the travel to London for the Ballon d'Or awards ceremonial connected Monday evening, wherever helium was 1 of the main contenders for the apical prize, on with Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.

The 19-year-old yet had to beryllium contented with 3rd spot arsenic Kane was named the Ballon d'Or victor up of Mbappe.

However, Yamal was not near empty-handed arsenic helium picked up his third Kopa Trophy aft antecedently winning the grant successful 2024, 2025 and 2026.

2024, 2025, 2026… ?? Three years. One name. Lamine Yamal, Young Talent of the Year. https://t.co/pd1wIWbvZV

Yamal makes Cubarsi admittance aft winning Kopa Trophy

After making his mode onto the signifier astatine the London Palladium, Yamal gave an honorable triumph code successful which helium claimed Cubarsi should person been named the champion young player.

"It's an honour to beryllium present and person this prize," Yamal said. 

"I would person liked Cubarsi my team-mate to beryllium here, due to the fact that I deliberation this prize should person been for him.

"He deserved it. He's been playing astatine an fantabulous level for immoderate time, and I privation helium had won this tonight. This is my 3rd twelvemonth up present for this prize, and I'm precise grateful for this.

"I would similar to convey my nine and my nationalist team, and I'll proceed moving to triumph these corporate and idiosyncratic prizes."

Cubarsi's awesome 2025-26 for nine and country

Yamal surely has crushed to consciousness that Cubarsi was worthy of the Kopa Trophy aft the young defender enjoyed a stellar play for Barcelona and Spain.

Cubarsi was a mainstay successful Hansi Flick's backline, making 48 competitory appearances crossed each competitions arsenic the Blaugrana retained their league rubric and the Spanish Super Cup.

The 19-year-old helped Barcelona decorativeness the 2025-26 La Liga run with the second-best antiaircraft record, with conscionable 36 goals conceded successful 38 games.

Cubarsi past played each infinitesimal of Spain's triumphant World Cup campaign, wherever helium helped Luis de la Fuente's broadside grounds 7 cleanable sheets successful 8 matches and picked up the Young Player of the Tournament award.