Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal crowned 2024 Kopa Trophy winner, sets record as youngest ever

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has clinched the 2024 Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world’s best player under the age of 21, Soccernet.football reports.

Announced at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, Yamal’s win makes him the youngest-ever recipient of the trophy and solidifies his reputation as one of football’s brightest young talents.

At just 17, Yamal has enjoyed an extraordinary rise for both club and country.

The Catalonia-born winger played a key role in Spain’s triumph at the European Championship last summer and has become a core player in a rejuvenated Barcelona side under manager Hansi Flick.

His triumph marks the third time in four years a Barcelona player has won the Kopa Trophy, following Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022. Yamal now joins an elite list of previous winners, including Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham.

Yamal made his Barcelona debut at 15 and quickly became a regular, scoring seven goals in 50 appearances last season.

His remarkable performances earned him a spot in Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, where he contributed four assists and netted a sensational semifinal goal against France, which was later named Goal of the Tournament. He was also awarded Young Player of the Tournament and included in the Team of the Tournament.

Yamal has carried this stellar form into the current season, where he lines up alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in Barça’s attack.

Already, he has six goals and seven assists in 14 appearances, including a historic strike against Real Madrid in the latest El Clásico—a goal that made him the youngest scorer in the rivalry’s history.

With 10 wins from their first 11 La Liga games, Yamal’s performances are proving instrumental to Barcelona’s success, establishing him as a standout in European football’s next generation.