Audio By Carbonatix
Lamine Yamal was named the world's best young player of the year as he won the 2024 Kopa Trophy due to his excellent displays for Barcelona and Spain.
The 17-year-old winger was handed the award on Monday after a year in which he established himself as a first-team star at Barcelona and played a key role in Spain's Euro 2024 success.
Yamal has been handed the trophy for best player under the age of 21, taking the award from last year's winner and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham. He follows his current Barcelona team-mates Gavi and Pedri in claiming the prize, while Kylian Mbappe and Matthijs de Ligt are the other previous winners.
Yamal finished top of the rankings with Real Madrid and Turkey youngster Arda Guler coming in second, while Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo was third. Manchester City's new signing Savinho was fourth, while Yamal's Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi was fifth. Joao Neves, who was signed from Paris Saint-Germain after an excellent year at Benfica, was joint-sixth, tied with United's Alejandro Garnacho. Bayern Munich's Mathys Tel, Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain and Red Bull Salzburg and Ivory Coast forward Karim Konate were all tied for eighth place.
Yamal won the prize just two days after he helped Barcelona to an incredible 4-0 win against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga. He will hope the prize gives him a boost as Barca, who have won their last five games, come up against Catalan rivals Espanyol in their next match.
Latest Stories
-
GOLDBOD CEO explains ‘Clear Typo’ in Foreign Reserves claim
14 minutes -
Trump says US military struck ISIS terrorists in Nigeria
41 minutes -
Civil society group calls on the Bank of Ghana to suspend planned normalisation of non-interest banking
3 hours -
Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve
3 hours -
Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro’s surgery for hernia ‘successful’
3 hours -
Ghana and Afreximbank announce successful resolution of $750 million facility
6 hours -
IGP inaugurates Ghana Police Music AcademyÂ
6 hours -
Proposed 5-year presidential term will be difficult for underperforming presidents to seek more – Prof Prempeh
6 hours -
Constitution review was inclusive, structured and effective – Prof Prempeh
7 hours -
Public urged to remain vigilant to ensure fire incident-free Christmas Â
7 hours -
Why the fight against neglected tropical diseases is far from over
7 hours -
Reported losses from gold operations in 2025 remain speculative – BoG
7 hours -
Fighting AIDS and STIs in Africa: UNFPA equips youth to turn data into action
7 hours -
Amaarae returns to Accra for homecoming concert
7 hours -
5-year term will be harsher on presidents, not kinder, says Constitution Review Chair
8 hours
