Messi's Vote Secured Lamine Yamal's Kopa Trophy Victory
Lamine Yamal won the 2026 Kopa Trophy by just two points over Pau Cubarsí. Lionel Messi's vote proved decisive as the Barcelona forward claimed his third consecutive award as the world's best young player.
The 2026 Kopa Trophy featured one of the closest voting results in its history. Lamine Yamal claimed the award for the world's best player under 21 after narrowly defeating his Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsí by 96 points to 94.
The difference came down to Lionel Messi's selection, as the Argentine superstar ranked the Spanish forward ahead of the defender on his ballot.
The official results were released by France Football and L'Équipe following the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London.
The Argentine legend, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, awarded five points to Yamal, three to Cubarsí, and one to Algerian midfielder Ibrahim Maza.
His decision ultimately proved crucial, as Cubarsí would have won the award if Messi had reversed the positions of the two Barcelona players.
How Does Kopa Trophy Voting Work?
The award is decided by a jury consisting of former Ballon d'Or winners, who select the three best players under the age of 21.
Each voter awards five points to their first choice, three to their second, and one to their third.
This year, Yamal secured his third consecutive Kopa Trophy, confirming his dominance among the most promising young talents in international soccer.
Additionally, Messi maintained the same preference he had shown in the previous two editions, once again ranking Yamal ahead of Cubarsí.
Ibrahim Maza, the Surprise Pick on Messi's Ballot
One of the most surprising details was Messi's decision to place Ibrahim Maza, a player for Bayer Leverkusen, in third place.
The Argentine was the only member of the jury to vote for the Algeria international, who finished the rankings with one point.
The two players had previously faced each other during the group-stage match between Argentina and Algeria at the 2026 World Cup.
Barcelona Dominates the Kopa Trophy Rankings
The final results placed two Barcelona players in the top two positions, highlighting the club's impressive generation of young talent.
Behind Yamal and Cubarsí came Warren Zaïre-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain, who finished with 20 points.
Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich placed fourth with 10 points, while Yan Diomandé of RB Leipzig completed the top five with eight points.
The narrow margin between the two leading candidates made Messi's vote one of the biggest talking points of the awards ceremony.
Key Takeaways
- Lamine Yamal won the 2026 Kopa Trophy with 96 points.
- Pau Cubarsí finished second with 94 points.
- Lionel Messi awarded five points to Yamal and three to Cubarsí.
- Ibrahim Maza received his only point thanks to the Argentine's vote.
- Yamal claimed his third consecutive Kopa Trophy.
