Stars or flashes in the pan? What became of the winners of Lamine Yamal's award
Six players have won the award for the best young talent. Some have established themselves among the best in the world; others have had to battle injuries.
Lamine Yamal won the Young Player of the Year award for the third consecutive time at the 2026 Ballon d'Or gala. The award, formerly known as the Kopa Trophy, honors the best player under 21. It was created in 2018 and was not handed out in 2020.
Kylian Mbappé, 2018: a prospect who went the distance
After winning the award, he was the top scorer at the 2022 World Cup with eight goals. In 2026 he finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting, by then as a Real Madrid player.
Matthijs de Ligt, 2019: trophies and a bumpy road
He won league titles with Juventus and Bayern before joining Manchester United in 2024. Injuries, however, have complicated his path: back surgery ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.
Pedri, 2021: much more than one good season
Injuries slowed part of his development, but he regained continuity. In 2025-26 he played 43 competitive matches for Barcelona and dished out 12 assists. He also won Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup with Spain.
Gavi, 2022: talent vs. injuries
A serious knee injury in 2023 sidelined him for months. He later suffered another meniscus problem and returned in March 2026 after 205 days without a competitive match for Barça. His case calls for distinguishing between losing continuity and losing talent.
His case calls for distinguishing between losing continuity and losing talent.
Jude Bellingham, 2023: the leap to the elite
In the 2023-24 season he won LaLiga and the Champions League with Real Madrid. He scored 19 goals in the Spanish league and was named the competition's best player.
Lamine Yamal, 2024, 2025 and 2026: three awards and a career ahead of him
At 19, he is already a world champion and finished third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or. His three consecutive wins are unprecedented for this award.
None of them has won the Ballon d'Or itself yet, but their careers can hardly be written off as a passing hot streak. All of them remain at elite clubs; the award, however, didn't make them immune to injuries or guarantee them careers without ups and downs.
Sources: ESPN
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