Kopa Trophy 2026: Yamal makes history as African trio’s final rankings are confirmed

The final positions of Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ibrahim Maza and Yan Diomande in the 2026 Kopa Trophy were revealed on Monday, with none of the three African players claiming the award.

Lamine Yamal of Spain and Barca won the prize for the third consecutive year at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London. He is the first player in the history of the award to achieve that feat.

Yan Diomande was the highest-ranked African player, finishing fifth. The 19-year-old Ivorian winger holds the record for the most expensive African transfer, having moved from Leipzig to Real Madrid last summer for 125 million euros excluding bonuses.

Ayyoub Bouaddi, who left Lille for Manchester City in a deal worth 95m euros, was placed sixth. The 19-year-old midfielder has been a Morocco international since the end of May and impressed during the 2026 World Cup.

Ibrahim Maza completed the African representation in the top 10, finishing ninth. The 20-year-old attacking player is a key figure in the play of Bayer Leverkusen and the Algeria national team.

His ranking prompted surprise and incomprehension among Algerian observers, who believed the player’s ability merited a higher position.

The Kopa Trophy is awarded to the best player under the age of 21 during the season. This year’s ceremony marked the first time in the history of the prize that three Africans had been nominated.

Before 2026, the continent had managed to place only one representative in the top 10 on two occasions. Amadou Haidara was ranked among the leading players in 2018, followed by Nigeria’s Samuel Chukwueze in 2019.