Lamine Yamal wins Kopa Trophy as Barcelona star awaits Ballon d'Or verdict

Lamine Yamal has become the first ever player to win the Kopa Trophy for two years in a row. The Barcelona star lifted the prestigious award which is given to the best under-21 player in the world.

Yamal sported an all-black suit as he strode onto the stage to collect his honour for the second consecutive campaign. After he received the trophy, former Chelsea manager and Dutch football hero Ruud Gullit said to him: "Maybe I'll see you back up here later," referencing the fact Yamal is in the running to win the Ballon d'Or award as well.

Last season, the Spaniard inspired Hansi Flick's side toa La Liga and Copa Del Rey double winning season. When his side won the latter, he contributed two assists in a 3-2 victory over Real Madrid.

He saw off competition from Paris Saint-Germain duo Desire Doue and Joao Neves, who both won Ligue 1, the Coupe De France and the Champions League, which saw PSG blast Inter Milan away 5-0 in the final.

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Yamal has missed Barcelona's last two matches with a groin injury. He is also expected to be sidelined when Barca face Getafe this weekend.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who was in Paris to watch his star man pick up the award, told the media at the weekend: "We’re working on it.

"But with Lamine, you have to take it day by day. He’s working hard, receiving treatment every day, and making good progress.”

The Barcelona manager also said he is not sure if the young Spaniard's impressive campaign will be enough to beat the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha to this year's Ballon d'Or. However, the German believes if he does not win it this year, then he will win it in the future.

Flick said: "I don't know [whether he will win the Ballon d’Or on Monday]. One day we'll see Lamine win this trophy, but whoever wins it this year will deserve it. For me, anyway, it's a matter of respect to be nominated."

Since the start of last season, Yamal has scored 20 goals and contributed 23 assists. Out of every player in Europe, nobody surpassed Yamal's record of completing 262 dribbles in the same time frame.

In the new season he has already picked up from where he left off, helping himself to two goals and three assists in LaLiga this season. The competitors for this year's Ballon d'Or is extremely impressive.

Dembele and Vitinha off PSG are two of the favourites, while Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe and Yamal's Barcelona team-mate Raphinha are also understood to be in the race.

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