Yamal wins young player award third year running at London Ballon d'Or
- Lamine Yamal collect di 2026 Young Talent of the Year award for di Ballon d'Or ceremony wey happen for London on Monday.
- Di 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain winger finish ahead of im club teammate Pau Cubarsí.
- Yamal talk say e feel say Cubarsí suppose win di prize, and e thank im club and country teammates.
Yamal don win di 2026 Young Talent of the Year award, na di third year in a row e dey take di prize for di best male footballer under 21. Dem give di award, wey dem also call Kopa Trophy, for di Ballon d'Or ceremony at di London Palladium on Monday.
Di 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain winger finish top of di ranking ahead of im club teammate Pau Cubarsí, wey come second. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery na third.
According to Vanguard and Leadership, Yamal thank im teammates for both club and international level after e receive di trophy. E also talk say e believe say Cubarsí suppose win am instead.
Di rest of di top 10
Germany's Lennart Karl come fourth, with Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomandé fifth. Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi na sixth and Kerim Alajbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina seventh.
France's Junior Kroupi finish eighth, Algeria's Ibrahim Maza ninth and Switzerland's Johan Manzambi tenth, according to Punch.
The Nation report say Yamal first win di award in 2024, di year e break into Barcelona's first team. On di women's side, e talk say Barcelona Femení youngster Vicky Lopez get recognition.
Why dis ceremony different
Dis na di 70th edition of di Ballon d'Or and na di first time dem dey stage am outside France. Football stars from clubs around di world and journalists gather for London for am.
England captain Harry Kane don dey tipped as favourite to become di first English winner in 25 years, but e face competition from La Liga pair Yamal and Kylian Mbappé. Di main men's Ballon d'Or winner dem never confirm for di reports wey we see at di time of writing.
For Nigerian fans, di night na reminder of how quickly Yamal rise: a teenager from Barcelona's academy now dey share stage with di biggest names for di game, and e still young enough to win dis prize again next year.
