Official: Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal wins 2024 Kopa Trophy at Ballon d’Or gala

It is official. Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has won the 2024 Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d’Or Gala in Paris today.

The 17-year-old attacking prodigy, who made his first-team breakthrough last season, has enjoyed a year to remember.

From starring for Barcelona under Xavi Hernandez, to playing a leading role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph, Yamal has already established himself as one of the best youngsters in the game.

And, his achievements have now been recognised with the awarding of the Kopa Trophy, handed out to the best Under-21 footballer.

Last year, it was Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham who had won the award. But the two years before that, Barcelona’s Pedri and Gavi had taken home the prestigious award and now Yamal has brought back the prize to Catalonia.

The 17-year-old sensation beat off competition from the likes of Pau Cubarsi, Arda Guler, Alejandro Garnacho, Warren Zaire-Emery, Kobbie Mainoo, Joao Neves, and several other exciting youngsters to lift the prestigious award.

Along with that, Yamal also secured a top-ten finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings for 2024, becoming the youngest player to do so in history.