Yamal Could Win Third Kopa Trophy? He Backs Cubarsi, Cape Verde Goalkeeper Contends for Yashin Trophy

On September 9 Beijing time, in addition to announcing the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or, the official Ballon d'Or organizers also announced the nominees for other awards, as follows:

Interestingly, as people discussed how likely Yamal was to win the award for a third consecutive time, the player himself posted on social media to support his club and national team teammate Cubarsi: “Cubarsi, he is the only winner!” — Yamal was also included among the 30 Ballon d'Or nominees and is one of the favorites, yet he has chosen to “give way” in the Best Young Player award race.

2026 Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player) nominees:

Arijon Ibrahimovic 18 years old Forward Bosnia and Herzegovina Salzburg/ Juventus (first nomination)

Bouaddi 18 years old Midfielder Morocco Lille/Manchester City (second nomination, best finish: 9th)

Cubarsi 19 years old Defender Spain Barcelona (third nomination, best finish: 5th)

Yan Diomande 19 years old Forward Ivory Coast Leipzig/Real Madrid (first nomination)

Lennart Karl 18 years old Forward Germany Bayern Munich (first nomination)

Kroupi 20 years old Forward France Bournemouth (first nomination)

Yamal 19 years old Forward Spain Barcelona (third nomination, best finish: back-to-back champion)

Manzambi 20 years old Midfielder Switzerland Freiburg/Villa (first nomination)

Ibrahim Maza 20 years old Midfielder Algeria Leverkusen (first nomination)

Zaire-Emery 20 years old Midfielder France Paris (second nomination, best finish: 8th)

2026 Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper) nominees:

Bounou 35 years old Morocco Al Hilal

Courtois 34 years old Belgium Real Madrid

Kobel 28 years old Switzerland Dortmund

Joan Garcia 25 years old Spain Barcelona

Damian Martinez 34 years old Argentina Aston Villa/Chelsea

Edouard Mendy 34 years old Senegal Al Ahli Jeddah

David Raya 30 years old Spain Arsenal

Vozinha 40 years old Cape Verde Chaves/Colo-Colo

Unai Simon 29 years old Spain Athletic Bilbao

Safonov 27 years old Russia Paris

2026 Cruyff Trophy (Best Coach) nominees:

Arteta Arsenal

De la Fuente Spain

Emery Aston Villa

Kompany Bayern Munich

Enrique Paris

2026 Club of the Year nominees:

Arsenal England

Bayern Munich Germany

Bodo/Glimt Norway

Flamengo Brazil

Paris France