Ballon d’Or 2026: Lamine Yamal joined by Moroccan and Algerian stars in Kopa Trophy shortlist

Ayyoub Bouaddi and Ibrahim Maza have been nominated for the 2026 Kopa Trophy, placing Moroccan and Algerian football among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best young player.

The expanded shortlist, announced by France Football, features 10 emerging players who have made an impact in Europe’s major leagues this season. It also includes Lamine Yamal, who won the award last year and is seeking to retain the honour after another outstanding campaign with Barcelona.

The nominees are:

– Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City) – Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona) – Yan Diomande (Real Madrid) – Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus) – Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich) – Eli Junior Kroupi (France) – Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – Johan Manzambi (Switzerland) – Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) – Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Bouaddi is the leading Moroccan presence on the list and has continued to attract attention with his performances for Manchester City. His nomination has been presented as a significant achievement for Moroccan and wider Arab football.

Maza, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most prominent Algerian talents in Europe. His inclusion gives Algeria representation among the 10 candidates competing for one of the most prestigious individual awards available to young players.

The contest is expected to be particularly competitive, with Yamal regarded as one of the strongest candidates to win again. The Barcelona forward’s exceptional season has placed him at the centre of the race, although he faces competition from a group that includes players from some of the continent’s most prominent clubs.

The list also features Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery and French prospect Eli Junior Kroupi, adding further weight to what has been described as one of the strongest editions of the Kopa Trophy in recent years.

France Football’s selection brings together talent from seven different nationalities and seven major European clubs. The presence of two Arab players, Bouaddi and Maza, in the final 10 is being viewed as a landmark moment and further evidence of the growing influence of Arab football in the global game.

Bouaddi and Maza will therefore be competing alongside Yamal and Diomande, as well as the remaining nominees, for the 2026 award. The shortlist reflects the increasingly international nature of youth football, with players from Morocco and Algeria now competing directly with some of Europe’s most highly regarded young names.

The Kopa Trophy forms part of the Ballon d’Or awards and is reserved for the outstanding young talent of the year. This year’s candidates have been selected after a season in which they made their mark in top-level European competition.