Lamine Yamal lifted the Kopa Trophy for the second consecutive time during the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony, held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The 18-year-old Spanish striker from Barcelona overcame strong competitors and solidified his status as a reference among the world’s young football talents. The award, organized by France Football magazine, highlighted performances from the 2024/25 season, marked by national titles for the Catalan club.
The event took place on this Monday, bringing together sports stars in a celebratory atmosphere. Yamal thanked Barcelona, the Spanish national team, and his family in his brief speech. He became the first player to win the award twice in a row since its creation in 2018.
Other nominees included promising names from various countries.
- Estêvão Willian, formerly of Palmeiras and now at Chelsea, finished fourth after an adaptation season in the Premier League.
- Désiré Doué, from PSG, impressed with contributions in decisive Ligue 1 matches.
- João Neves, also from PSG, stood out with precise passes and game vision.
- Kenan Yildiz, from Juventus, contributed goals in Serie A.
In the women’s category, Vicky López, 19 years old and Yamal’s teammate at Barcelona, took the inaugural Kopa Trophy for women. Her performance in the season included crucial goals in the Women’s Champions League and the Spanish league.
Highlights of Yamal’s journey at Barcelona
Yamal joined Barcelona’s first team as a teenager and quickly became an essential piece in the attack. In the 2024/25 season, he scored 12 goals and provided 15 assists in LaLiga, helping the club win the national title for the first time in years. His playing style, combining speed and precision in passes, caught the attention of European coaches.
The Spaniard played in 38 official matches, accumulating over 2,500 minutes on the field. Despite the elimination in the Champions League semifinals against Inter Milan, his consistency in domestic games weighed in the voting. He formed a lethal duo with Raphinha, who also competed for individual awards at the gala.
Here is the 2025 Kopa Trophy full ranking!
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 22, 2025
1️⃣ Yamal Lamine
2️⃣ Désiré Doué
3️⃣ Joao Neves
4️⃣ Estevao
5️⃣ Kenan Yildiz
6️⃣ Dean Huijsen
7️⃣ Pau Cubarsi
8️⃣ Rodrigo Mora
9️⃣ Ayyoub Bouaddi
9️⃣ Myles Lewis-Skelly#TrophéeKopa #ballondor pic.twitter.com/pYRe4DltsF
Teammates like Pedri praised his maturity in post-match interviews. Yamal trained intensively during the summer to improve his long-range shot, resulting in three goals from outside the box in the campaign. Barcelona invested in his development from La Masia, where he joined at seven years old.
Other factors contributed to his victory.
- Contributions in the previous Eurocopa, with one goal and assists.
- Quick adaptation to Hansi Flick’s possession tactics.
- Recognition from rivals, such as praise from Real Madrid coaches.
- Defensive numbers, with an average of four tackles per game.
Vicky López shines in Spanish women’s football
López emerged as a versatile attacking midfielder in Barcelona Femení, scoring eight goals and distributing ten assists in the season. Her game vision facilitated quick transitions, especially in matches against Real Madrid. At 19, she joined the Spanish under-21 team and contributed to victories in international tournaments.
The women’s award, introduced in 2025, recognized her impact in an increasingly competitive league. López played 35 matches, with a pass accuracy rate above 85%. She surpassed competitors like Linda Caicedo from Real Madrid, who was limited by injuries.
Coaches highlighted her ability to read the game in press conferences. López grew up in Barcelona’s youth categories and signed a professional contract at 16. Her season included a hat-trick in a Copa de la Reina match, consolidating her position in the squad.
Notable competitors in the women’s category were:
- Michelle Agyemang, from Brighton, with speed in counter-attacks in the Women’s Super League.
- Wieke Kaptein, from Chelsea, strong in aerial balls and physical duels.
- Claudia Martínez Ovando, from Olimpia, top scorer in the Paraguayan league with 18 goals.
- Linda Caicedo, despite injuries, scored five decisive goals.
Estêvão Willian and Brazil’s path in the award
Estêvão Willian, 18 years old, finished fourth in the Kopa Trophy after transferring from Palmeiras to Chelsea in July 2025. His Premier League debut included an assist in a 5-1 win over West Ham. In Brazil, he scored 10 goals in the 2024 Brasileirão, winning the Breakthrough Player award.
The young attacker adapted quickly to English football, averaging 1.2 dribbles per game. His call-up to the Brazilian under-20 team came after standout performances in friendlies. Estêvão signed for 34 million euros, with performance bonuses.
At Palmeiras, he was a highlight in the 2024 Copinha, scoring in the semifinals. His transition to Europe included training with veterans like Enzo Fernández. Analysts point to his Messi-like style as a differential.
Other Brazilians at the gala included Alisson Becker, nominated for the Yashin Trophy as best goalkeeper. He kept 28 clean sheets in the season with Liverpool, including Champions League matches. Arthur Elias, coach of the women’s national team, competed for the coach award.
Evolution of the Kopa Trophy since its creation
The Kopa Trophy was created in 2018 to honor Raymond Kopa, a French legend who won three European Cups with Real Madrid. Initially for men, it expanded in 2025 to include women, reflecting the growth of women’s football. The voting involves journalists from 100 countries, based on performances from July to June.
In 2018, Kylian Mbappé won as a PSG debutant. Matthijs de Ligt took it in 2019 for Ajax and Juventus. The 2020 edition was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Pedri won in 2021 for Barcelona, followed by Gavi in 2022 and Bellingham in 2023. Yamal broke the repetition record in 2024 and now 2025.
In the women’s category, López inaugurated it with impressive numbers: 18 goal contributions in official competitions. The Ballon d’Or awards total distribute trophies in eight main categories, with clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid nominated for the team award.
Previous men’s winners:
- 2018: Mbappé, with 13 World Cup goals.
- 2019: De Ligt, Ajax captain in the Champions League.
- 2021: Pedri, young player of the year at the Eurocopa.
- 2022: Gavi, Spain’s revelation.
- 2023: Bellingham, Real Madrid star.
Yamal’s influence on the Spanish national team
Yamal joined the senior Roja at 16 and remained a starter in Nations League qualifiers. His 5 goals and 7 assists in 20 international matches weighed in the jury’s decision. He trained with veterans like Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.
Spain won the Eurocopa 2024 with Yamal as the best young player, scoring in the quarterfinals. His partnership with Nico Williams created lethal attacks on the left. Rival coaches, like Deschamps, praised his boldness in open play.
Yamal plans more seasons at Barcelona before considering transfers. His contract runs until 2028, with a 1 billion euro release clause. Spanish fans flooded social media after the announcement, celebrating the back-to-back Kopa win.
In the gala context, other awards went to goalkeepers like Donnarumma from PSG, with 28 games without conceding. Coaches like Carlo Ancelotti from Real Madrid won in the men’s category for titles in LaLiga and Champions.
Parallels between Yamal and López at Barça
Both trained in the Blaugrana youth system, Yamal and López share a collective playing philosophy. López, as a midfielder, complements women’s attacks with through balls, similar to Yamal’s in the men’s team. Barcelona invested 20 million in youth infrastructure in 2025.
López scored in the Women’s Champions League final, securing the European double. Her chance conversion rate reached 25%. She played 12 matches for Spain under-21, with 4 consecutive wins.
The Catalan club dominates under-21 categories, with 15 players nominated for global awards in the last three years. Yamal and López represent renewal, after Messi and Alexia Putellas’ departures to new challenges.
Tactical aspects of Barcelona influenced their wins:
- Emphasis on possession above 60% in key games.
- Integrated training between men’s and women’s teams for experience sharing.
- Focus on nutrition and recovery, reducing injuries by 30%.
- Partnerships with academies for early talent detection.
- Data analysis to optimize field positioning.
The Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony reinforced the balance between men’s and women’s categories, with broadcast to 150 countries. Yamal mentioned Raphinha in his thanks, highlighting locker room support. López dedicated the award to her teammates, citing Bonmatí as inspiration.
Other Brazilian nominations, like Marta in the women’s Ballon d’Or, kept the country in the spotlight. Estêvão, despite fourth place, gained visibility for future Chelsea seasons. The gala continued with top scorer announcements, like Harry Kane with 44 goals for Bayern.
Yamal returned to Barcelona on Tuesday for training, preparing for the Clásico against Real Madrid. López headed to under-21 Spanish commitments. The Kopa Trophy boosts careers, as seen with Mbappé post-2018.
