FBL-AWARD-BALLON D’OR-2026
Spain and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal speaks after winning the Trophy for the Men’s Young Talent of the Year during the 2026 Ballon d’Or France Football award ceremony at the Palladium Theatre in London on October 26, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)
Gill Clark Gill Clark is the site manager of Barca Blaugranes and joined in 2017. She has worked in sports media as a writer and editor for the best part of two decades and has been in love with the beautiful game for as long as she can remember.
Lamine Yamal was named the winner of the Kopa Trophy for a third time on Monday night at the Ballon d’Or awards in London but feels team-mate Pau Cubarsi should have picked up the trophy instead.
The two players both won La Liga with Barcelona last season and also played their part in Spain’s World Cup win in North America, Mexico and Canada.
Yamal’s performances saw him pick up the trophy for the third year running but he paid tribute to his team-mate in his acceptance speech.
“It is an honour to be here and receive this prize,” he said. “I would have liked to see my team-mate Cubarsi here because I think this prize should have been for him. He deserved it. He has been playing at an excellent level for some time.
”This is my third year up here for this prize. I would like to thank my club and my national team. Speaking about this one specifically, this one should have been for Cubarsi.”
Cubarsi did not make the trip to London for Monday’s ceremony, opting to stay in Barcelona to rest and disconnect after a tough week that has brought defeats to PSG and Barcelona.
Should Cubarsi have won the Kopa Trophy ahead of Yamal? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
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