Yamal makes history again as Benzema reveals 2026 Kopa Award ballot

Karim Benzema selected Lamine Yamal as his leading candidate for the 2026 Kopa Award, with the Barcelona forward going on to win the prize for a third consecutive year.

The 2026 award recognises the best player aged under 21. Benzema, captain of Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad and the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, placed Yamal first in his vote.

Details published by France Football and reported by French outlet Foot Mercato showed that Benzema ranked Yamal ahead of Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi, who finished second on his ballot. Lille midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi was third, giving the Moroccan talent a place among Benzema’s three preferred young players.

Benzema’s selections closely reflected the final outcome. Yamal retained the Kopa Award, with Cubarsi second and France and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery third.

The top 10 also included Lennart Karl, Yan Diomande, Ayoub Bouaddi, Eli Junior Kroupi, Kerim Alajbegovic, Ibrahim Maza and Johan Manzambi.

At 19, Yamal has become the first player to win the Kopa Award three times in succession. His latest success further underlines the impact he has made across European football despite his age.

Yamal collected the highest number of points in a vote conducted by previous Ballon d’Or winners. Lionel Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, was among those involved in choosing the winner.