Lamine Yamal Hat-Trick of Young Talent Awards at 2026 Ballon d'Or

London, October 27: Spain and FC Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal secured the Young Talent of the Year award for the third year running at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony. The win is a historic achievement that places him firmly among the most talented young players on the planet.

Yamal finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings, behind Harry Kane in first place and Kylian Mbappe in second.

Yamal first claimed the Young Talent of the Year award in 2024, which marked the start of his global reputation as an exceptional talent. He retained the award in 2025, becoming the first player to defend the title. Now, his third straight triumph carries him further and secures a special place in football history.

Andriy Shevchenko, the Ukrainian football great, presented the award to Yamal at the gala.

Yamal reacted to the honour by saying, "It is a matter of pride for me to receive this award. I wanted Cubarsi to win, and he is deserving. He has been excellent for a long time. I am very happy, and I want to thank my club, my national team and everyone involved."

The 2025/26 season confirmed Yamal's reputation as one of the world's leading footballers. He was crucial to Barcelona's success in winning La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. Over 45 matches, he netted 24 goals and provided 18 assists. The numbers show his impact both in front of goal and in creating opportunities, making him one of the team's principal players.

He was also named the La Liga 2025/26 Best Player. In domestic matches, he contributed 16 goals and 11 assists, and he led the league in assists.

With Spain, Yamal won the World Cup and was crowned world champion, a memorable tournament in which he scored one goal.