A top Barcelona star has officially been crowned Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year 2026 in a glittering ceremony.
The new category honours outstanding athletes under the age of 21, and the jury selected a player whose impact on the game in 2025 far outstripped his age.
The award was presented at the Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Madrid, which brought together some of the planet’s biggest names across multiple disciplines.
The winner is Lamine Yamal, the 18‑year‑old winger whose explosive breakthrough season has already made him one of the most talked‑about young players in football, as per the official Laureus World Sports Awards statement.
Playing a central role in Barcelona’s domestic treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, Yamal combined breathtaking dribbling, creativity and a knack for decisive moments with maturity well beyond his years.
His individual records, including becoming the youngest Ballon d’Or runner‑up at just 18, underlined why the Laureus panel saw him as the perfect embodiment of the new Young Sportsperson of the Year award.
Beyond the stats, the jury highlighted Yamal’s influence on the broader landscape, praising his ability to captivate audiences and inspire a new generation of players.
The Barcelona superstar has already collected two Kopa Trophies, an unprecedented feat, and his 2025‑26 campaign has been defined by cool‑headed performances in high‑pressure matches.
At just 18, this year’s Laureus honour makes Yamal the youngest athlete to win two Laureus awards, having previously claimed the Breakthrough Sportsperson of the Year prize in 2025.
The recognition places him alongside global icons celebrated in the main categories—such as Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Rory McIlroy and Paris Saint‑Germain’s Champions League‑winning squad—while underlining that his status is no longer “future star” but present‑day elite.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
