Retains the Kopa Trophy
Lamine Yamal continues to break records as a teenager. At just 18 years old, he has become the first player ever to retain the Kopa Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards. The Barcelona sensation, who previously won the award in 2024, has outperformed Désiré Doué (second place) and João Neves (third place) to claim this year’s title. Yamal had an exceptional season, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists across all competitions. He also helped Barça secure the domestic treble and reached the Champions League semi-finals as well as the Nations League final with Spain.
Currently, Yamal is the most valuable player in the world, with a market value of €200 million—more than double the combined worth of the other nine Kopa Trophy nominees (shown above). At the age of 18, Yamal is making a tremendous impact on international football, boasting an impressive résumé that many players would envy even after decades in the sport. He has already won the European Championship with Spain, two La Liga titles, and numerous individual honors, which now include his second Kopa Trophy.
