Confirmed: Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal nominated for 2026 Men’s Young Talent of the Year | OneFootball

As expected, FC Barcelona teenage duo of Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi have been nominated for the 2026 Men’s Young Talent of the Year award which will be presented at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Both La Masia graduates enjoyed exceptional campaigns with Barcelona and the Spain national team in 2025/26, making their nominations for the prize, also known as the Kopa Trophy, very much deserved.

Lamine has been the winner of the Men’s Young Talent of the Year honour for the last two editions and could complete a hat-trick after another successful season.

The 19-year-old winger was at the heart of the Catalans’ La Liga and Spanish Super Cup triumphs last season before he won the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Spanish national team.

The attacker ended the 2025/26 season with 24 goals and 18 assists from 45 games for Barcelona. At the World Cup he played eight times, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.

As for Cubarsi, he was a permanent fixture in defence for Barcelona, making 48 appearances in all competitions.

Later with Spain at the World Cup, he particularly excelled alongside Aymeric Laporte, playing every minute of their eight matches while letting in only one goal in the tournament.

Given the success they enjoyed, both Cubarsi and Lamine are also expected to be in the final 30 for the Ballon d’Or honour.

For the Men’s Young Talent of the Year honour, the Barcelona duo will be up against Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Warren Zaire-Emery, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ibrahim Maza, Kerim Alajbegović, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Johan Manzambi.