Yamal's Kopa Triumph: 24/27 Ballon d'Or Votes

 In a stunning display of consensus among football's elite, Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal secured the 2025 Kopa Trophy with overwhelming support from past Ballon d'Or winners. 

The award, honoring the world's best player under 21, saw 24 out of 27 voting legends place Yamal at the top of their ballots, underscoring his meteoric rise in the sport.

France Football revealed the voting details post-gala at the Theatre du Chatelet, where Yamal clinched his second consecutive Kopa Trophy at just 18 years old—a record feat.

 He amassed 124 points out of a possible 135, improving on his 2024 tally of 113.

The voters, including icons like Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, and Luka Modric, overwhelmingly favored Yamal. 

Messi, a Barcelona legend himself, ranked Yamal first and included teammate Pau Cubarsi third.

 Other supporters spanned generations: from Gianni Rivera and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge to recent winners like Karim Benzema and Rodri.

Only three deviated: Roberto Baggio prioritized Desire Doue first and Yamal third; Ruud Gullit omitted Yamal from his top three; and Pavel Nedved placed him second. 

Notably, Kevin Keegan, Michel Platini, and Cristiano Ronaldo abstained from voting.

This dominance highlights Yamal's exceptional 2024-25 season, where he dazzled for club and country, finishing runner-up in the main Ballon d'Or to Ousmane Dembele by 321 points. 

Voted by 100 journalists, the senior award contrasted sharply with the legends' near-unanimous endorsement of Yamal's youth brilliance.

Yamal's back-to-back wins cement his status as a generational talent, drawing comparisons to Messi and Ronaldo in their primes. 

As Barcelona rebuilds, Yamal's future shines brighter than ever.