Barcelona's Lamine Yamal named Kopa Trophy winner

Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal lifted the Kopa Trophy at Monday night's Ballon d'Or ceremony, signifying his status as the best male player in the world under the age of 21.

The 17-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Barcelona during the 2023/24 season. He established himself as a first-team regular while keeping his grades up, rattling in five top-flight goals on top of seven assists as he appeared in all but one of last term's fixtures.

Yamal has added the Kopa Trophy to his growing list of other accolades in the game, becoming the youngest player to score for Spain, the youngest scorer in La Liga history, the youngest player to win a European Championship and now the youngest ever recipient of the coveted award.

Former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez was always reluctant to compare the club's latest prodigy with their greatest ever player, but he did admit that "there are flashes of Lionel Messi" in Yamal.

Lionel Messi had to wait until he was 34 before winning his first senior title in international football. Yamal ticked that box one day after turning 17 over the summer. The fleet-footed forward was the face of Spain's new-look side at Euro 2024, leading the tournament winners in assists, shots, chances created and dribbles attempted.

Yamal only scored once at the Euros, but it was a memorable strike. After he was publicly challenged by France midfielder Adrien Rabiot, the Spanish forward got his revenge when the nations clashed in the semi-finals. Halfway through the first half of an engrossing contest, Yamal came face-to-face with Rabiot, jinked onto his left foot and bent a stunning effort beyond the dive of Mike Maignan.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente hailed Yamal as "one of those players touched by God's magic wand". The jury of former Ballon d'Or winners clearly agreed.

Barcelona's Pau Cubarsi, who bunked up with Yamal at the club's academy accommodation throughout last season, was one of the nine other nominees for this year's Kopa Trophy. Yamal also finished ahead of the Manchester United duo of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo while claiming more Clasico bragging rights by also beating Real Madrid's Arda Guler.

In the short history of an award first launched in 2018, Barcelona boast three of the six winners. Gavi claimed the prize in 2022, one year after his compatriot and teammate, Pedri, was given the honour. Jude Bellingham was the most recent recipient and progressed to become one of the favourites for this year's senior Ballon d'Or. Given Yamal's electric start to the current campaign, he will likely follow a similar trajectory.

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