London, October 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal has made history by winning the Young Talent of the Year award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony for the third consecutive year, becoming the first footballer to achieve the feat.
The 19-year-old received the honour at Monday’s ceremony in London from Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko. Yamal, who also finished third in the men’s Ballon d’Or rankings behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappe, acknowledged the achievement while expressing support for his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí.
“It’s an honour to receive this award. I would have liked Cubarsí to have won; he deserves it. He has been great for a long time. I am very happy, and I want to thank my club, the national team, everyone,” Yamal said.
His latest triumph follows victories in 2024 and 2025, extending his record in the award recognising outstanding young footballers.
Yamal enjoyed an influential 2025-26 campaign with Barcelona, helping the club win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. He scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists in 45 appearances across competitions, underlining his contribution to both scoring and creating opportunities.
In La Liga, he registered 16 goals and 11 assists and was the competition’s leading provider of assists. He was also named the league’s Best Player for the 2025-26 season.
Yamal contributed to Spain’s success on the international stage as well, scoring once in eight appearances at the World Cup as the national team emerged victorious.
His continued success at club and international level has strengthened his standing among football’s leading young players. The third consecutive award also extends Barcelona’s record of success in the young talent category, previously won by teammates Pedri and Gavi in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
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