Barcelona's Lamine Yamal wins Kopa Trophy, says teammate Pau Cubarsi deserved it

Barcelona footballer Lamine Yamal, 19, won the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player at the Ballon d'Or ceremony for the third consecutive year, but said he wished teammate Pau Cubarsi had received the award instead. Yamal expressed his preference for Cubarsi during the London Palladium event, praising his teammate's consistent high level and saying he had hoped Cubarsi would win. The winner was selected from 10 nominees by 33 living Ballon d'Or recipients, and Yamal remains eligible for two more editions. Barcelona has dominated the Kopa Trophy since 2018, with Yamal, Pedri, and Gavi all winning. Cubarsi, also 19, played 48 matches last season, has impressed at the 2026 World Cup, and is valued at €100 million.