The award recognises the best players in the world under the age of 21.<\/p>\n
Yamal, 18, enjoyed a superb 2024\/25 season with Barcelona, scoring 18 goals and providing 25 assists in all competitions.<\/p>\n
“Maybe I’ll see you back up here later,” said Ruud Gullit, co-hosting the ceremony, when Yamal collected the Kopa Trophy.<\/p>\n
“Firstly, thank you to France Football for the award,” Yamal said. “It’s an honour to be here again. <\/p>\n
“I would also like to thank my club Barcelona, as well as the national team, because without them I would not be here.”<\/p>\n
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick gave his thoughts on Yamal’s Ballon d’Or hopes last weekend, with the teenager absent from his side’s win over Getafe with a groin injury.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know [whether he will win the Ballon d\u2019Or on Monday],” Flick said. “One day we’ll see Lamine win this trophy, but whoever wins it this year will deserve it. For me, anyway, it’s a matter of respect to be nominated.”<\/p>\n
It is the second successive year Yamal has won the Kopa Trophy. He won by a landslide with 113 points in 2024, ahead of Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo.<\/p>\n
This year, he beat Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue to the award, after the 20-year-old starred with a brace in the UEFA Champions League final against Internazionale.<\/p>\n
Another PSG player, Joao Neves, was in third. The Portugal international was influential throughout the French club’s successful campaign.<\/p>\n
New Chelsea signing Estevao was in fourth, after impressing in Brazil with Palmeiras and earning his first caps for the national team before his move to Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n
Rounding off the top 10 were Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Porto’s Rodrigo Mora, Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.<\/p>\n
In the Women’s Kopa Trophy, Lopez of Barcelona took the award, having helped her side to Liga F and Copa de la Reina glory, as well as playing an important role in Spain’s run to the final of the UEFA Women’s Euros.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old, who won the Golden Girl award last year, scored 10 goals in 25 league appearances for Barcelona.<\/p>\n
“I dedicate this award to my mother, who is protecting me from heaven,” Lopez said. <\/p>\n
She added an acknowledgement for Barcelona, saying: “They have supported me and allowed me to compete for the best team in the world at just 16 years old.”<\/p>\n
She finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo in the Kopa Trophy rankings, with Chelsea’s Wieke Kaptein in third.<\/p>\n
Brighton loanee and England rising star Michelle Agyemang finished fourth, ahead of Paraguayan Claudia Martinez Ovando.<\/p>\n