Lamine Yamal’s Kopa trophy win and the margin that left Real Madrid prodigy behind

At the prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony held in Paris on October 28, Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, celebrated a significant achievement by placing eighth in the Ballon d’Or ranking. 

More impressively, he secured the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player under 21. This victory has been quite remarkable, as Yamal earned an impressive total of 113 points in the voting. 

His lead over competitors was striking; his closest rival, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, finished with just 26 points, showcasing the strong support and recognition Yamal received from the football community.

The difference was enormous 

Another promising Barcelona talent, Pau Cubarsi, also made an appearance in the Kopa Trophy rankings, securing fifth place with 8 points. Interestingly, Lionel Messi, the Barcelona icon, selected Cubarsi as his second preference for the Kopa Trophy. 

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) November 9, 2024

Messi, widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the game, showed his confidence in Barcelona’s young talents by placing Yamal at the top of his voting list for the Kopa Trophy, followed by Cubarsi and Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho in third.

Yamal’s achievement reflects the high regard he has earned among some of the game’s most notable figures. Several Ballon d’Or winners, both from past and present eras, chose Yamal as their top choice. 

Legendary players such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Rivaldo, Hristo Stoichkov, Ronaldinho, Luka Modric, and Karim Benzema showed their admiration for the young forward by placing him first in their Kopa Trophy votes.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for Yamal and highlights his rapid rise in the football world. Being celebrated by football legends underscores his exceptional potential, and his success serves as a testament to the strength of Barcelona’s academy, La Masia. 

Yamal’s achievements, along with Cubarsí’s notable fifth-place finish, showcase the bright future of Barça’s youth talents and their potential to shape the club’s legacy for years to come.