Retains Trophy
Lamine Yamal continues to break records as a teenager. The 18-year-old has made history by becoming the first player to retain the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards. The Barcelona superstar, who won the 2024 edition, outperformed Désiré Doué (second) and Pau Cubarsí (third) to claim this year’s honor. Yamal enjoyed an outstanding season, defying his age with remarkable performances. He netted 18 goals and provided 25 assists in all competitions. Yamal helped Barcelona secure a domestic treble and reached both the Champions League semi-finals and the Nations League final with Spain.
Yamal is currently the world’s most valuable player, with a market value of €200 million—more than double that of the other nine nominees for the Kopa Trophy. At just 18 years old, he is making a significant impact in football, already boasting a résumé that many players would aspire to achieve by their late 30s. His accolades include winning the European Championship with Spain, two La Liga titles, and numerous individual awards. He has now added a second Kopa Trophy to his impressive list of accomplishments.
