Full shortlist: Alajbegovic, Bouaddi, Cubarsi, Diomande, Karl, Kroupi, Yamal, Manzambi, Maza, Zaire-Emery. Yamal already won it in 2024 and 2025 - first player to ever retain the award. A win this year makes him the first three-time winner ever. His numbers back it up too: 24 goals, 18 assists in 45 games for Barcelona, plus winning the actual World Cup with Spain. The real threat to him is his own teammate though.
Cubarsi was named Best Young Player AT the World Cup after Spain's run - their defense conceded literally one goal across the whole tournament, and a lot of neutral observers thought Cubarsi had the better individual tournament of the two. Kind of wild that this might come down to two Barcelona academy products battling each other for the award again. Feels like La Masia is just breaking the sport at this point in terms of producing this level of young talent back to back.
Curious who people think actually wins it - feels like Yamal's resume is still bigger on paper but Cubarsi's World Cup individual recognition might carry real weight with the voting panel. https://athletestyles.com/kopa-trophy-2026-nominees-young-talent/
