FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy on Monday at France Football’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.

Named after French legend Raymond Kopa, the award is given to the youngster considered the world’s best footballer under the age of 21, decided by all living former Ballon d’Or winners.

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe won the inaugural edition of the trophy in 2018 while still at Paris Saint-Germain, with Ajax’s Matthijs de Ligt succeeding him in 2019 after the team’s improbable run. Dutch team in the semi-finals of the Champions League which also achieved a victory at the time. -reigning Madrid at the Bernabeu.

At the turn of the decade, Barca dominated the prize with back-to-back wins for Lamine’s teammates Pedri and Gavi in ​​2020 and 2021.

Madrid won the Kopa Trophy for the first time in October 2023 thanks to Jude Bellingham, but a landmark event took place in Catalonia in April that year when a 15-year-old Lamine replaced Gavi in ​​the 83rd minute of a 4–0 victory over Real Betis at the Camp Nou and made his senior debut at the age of 15.

In 2023/2024, Barça ceded their La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles to Madrid. Yet one of the few bright sparks in a trophyless campaign was Lamine becoming a regular on the right wing under Xavi Hernandez.

At 17, Lamine headed to the Euros and broke records as the youngest player in the semi-finals of a major tournament since Pelé at the 1958 World Cup, and as the youngest goalscorer in the continental tournament after equalizing against Mbappé’s France in the semi-final.

Lamine also assisted Nico Williams for Spain’s opening goal in a 2-1 final victory over England in Berlin, making La Roja the record winners of the UEFA international competition.

Under Xavi’s successor Hansi Flick, Lamine continued his momentum at Barca in 2024/25 and became the youngest Clasico scorer on Saturday as the Catalans beat Madrid 0-4 at the Bernabeu while opening a six -point ahead at the top of La Liga.

Following this feat, Lamine was awarded the Kopa Trophy and also finished in the Top 10 for the Ballon d’Or won by fellow Spaniard Rodri while Vinicius Jr. was denied the senior prize in a shock development.

Many football fans and pundits see Lamine winning the best male footballer award in the very near future, and it would be difficult to argue with them if his star continues to rise at a dizzying rate.