The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Young Talent of the Year — commonly known as the Kopa Trophy — have been confirmed, with 10 nominees in the men’s category and five in the women’s. The winners will be crowned alongside the rest of the Ballon d’Or honours at the ceremony in London on Monday, 26 October.
Table of Contents
Men’s Nominees
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Kerim Alajbegović | Juventus |
| Ayyoub Bouaddi | Manchester City |
| Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona |
| Yan Diomandé | Real Madrid |
| Lennart Karl | Bayern Munich |
| Éli Junior Kroupi | Bournemouth |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| Johan Manzambi | Aston Villa |
| Ibrahim Maza | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Warren Zaïre-Emery | Paris Saint-Germain |
Yamal Chasing an Unprecedented Third Straight Win
The standout name on the men’s shortlist is, unsurprisingly, Lamine Yamal. Having already won the award in both 2024 and 2025, the Barcelona forward is bidding to become the first player in the Kopa Trophy’s history to win it three years running. His case is a strong one: 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances for Barcelona in 2025-26 helped fire the club to the La Liga title, and he capped his season by helping Spain to World Cup glory this summer.
Yamal is joined on the list by club and international teammate Pau Cubarsí, who picks up his third Kopa nomination after finishing fifth in 2024 and seventh last year. The Barcelona and Spain centre-back made 62 appearances in 2025-26, contributing a goal and two assists from defence.
New Faces and Big-Money Moves
Several nominees are up for the award for the first time. Yan Diomandé earns his nomination after a breakout season that led to a reported €140 million move to Real Madrid, while Manchester City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, a club-record signing in his own right, also features following his own standout campaign.
Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl enjoyed a trophy-laden debut season in senior football, scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists in 44 appearances as Bayern swept the German league, cup and Super Cup. Éli Junior Kroupi forced his way into contention after a January move from Lorient to Bournemouth, while Kerim Alajbegović earned his nomination on the back of a breakout loan spell at Red Bull Salzburg, 13 goals in all competitions, and a standout solo goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina against Qatar at the World Cup that was shortlisted for Goal of the Tournament — form that has since earned him a move to Juventus.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Ibrahim Maza and Aston Villa’s Johan Manzambi round out the newcomers, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Warren Zaïre-Emery, a fixture on recent shortlists, returns once again for his consistent performances at PSG.
Read More: 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees Are Out: Find Out the 30 Stars in the Running
FAQs
What is the Kopa Trophy?
The Kopa Trophy, officially the Young Talent of the Year award, is presented to the best under-21 footballer in the world, part of the annual Ballon d’Or ceremony.
How many times has Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy?
Yamal has won the award twice, in 2024 and 2025, and is nominated again in 2026 in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive title.
Who won the first Women’s Kopa Trophy?
Barcelona’s Vicky López won the inaugural Women’s Kopa Trophy in 2025 and is nominated again this year to defend her title.
When will the 2026 Kopa Trophy winners be announced?
The winners in both the men’s and women’s categories will be revealed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on 26 October 2026.
How many players are nominated for the 2026 Kopa Trophy?
There are 10 nominees in the men’s category and five in the women’s category.
