Yamal claims 2026 Ballon d’Or Young Talent award for third year running

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has won the 2026 Young Talent of the Year award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, securing the honour for the third consecutive year, Punch reports. The win extends Yamal’s unbroken run of victories in the category to three years in a row.

Yamal topped the ranking ahead of Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí, who finished second, while Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery placed third. German youngster Lennart Karl came fourth, followed by Ivory Coast forward Yan Diomandé in fifth.

Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi finished sixth, while Kerim Alajbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina placed seventh. Junior Kroupi of France came eighth, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza finished ninth, and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi completed the top 10. The full 2026 Young Talent of the Year top 10 reads: Lamine Yamal (Spain), Pau Cubarsí (Spain), Warren Zaïre-Emery (France), Lennart Karl (Germany), Yan Diomandé (Ivory Coast), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco), Kerim Alajbegovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Junior Kroupi (France), Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) and Johan Manzambi (Switzerland).