Boluwatife Kehinde
Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal has vowed to keep pushing toward the pinnacle of world football after finishing second in the Ballon d’Or rankings in France.
The 18-year-old forward, widely regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation, walked away from the Paris ceremony with his second consecutive Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best U-21 player in the world.
Yaal’s achievement underlines his steady rise in global football, as he continues to deliver standout performances for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Winning the Kopa Trophy back-to-back places him in elite company and reaffirms his status as the leading figure among football’s new generation of stars.
The teenager ranked ahead of other highly-rated youngsters, including France’s Désiré Doué, Portugal’s João Neves, Brazilian prodigy Estevão, and Turkey’s Kenan Yildiz.
Despite his impressive finish, Yamal fell just short of clinching the Ballon d’Or itself, which went to Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé after an outstanding 2024/25 season. However, Yamal showed maturity beyond his years by congratulating the Frenchman on his success.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Barcelona forward expressed gratitude and determination, writing: “God’s plan is perfect, you have to climb to get to the top. Happy for the Kopa Trophy x2 and I congratulate Ousmane Dembélé for the award and the great season.”
His words highlight both humility and ambition, traits that have endeared him to fans and pundits alike. While acknowledging Dembélé’s achievement, Yamal made it clear he sees himself on a path that will eventually lead to the game’s ultimate prize.
For Barcelona, Yamal’s continued growth is a source of optimism as the club looks to rebuild a dominant era around young talent. For Spain, his emergence signals the arrival of a player capable of defining the national team’s future.
With two Kopa trophies already secured before his 19th birthday, the countdown has already begun to when Yamal might finally lift the Ballon d’Or itself.
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