# Vicky López wins women’s young talent award for second straight year

The Barcelona and Spain midfielder retained her Ballon d’Or youth honor in London after helping her club win four trophies.

By The Signal Edition | Sports / Soccer
Published: 2026-10-26T22:12:16Z
Updated: 2026-10-26T22:12:16Z
Canonical: https://www.thesignaledition.com/article/vicky-lopez-young-talent-award-1uveqfz
Image: https://www.thesignaledition.com/media/8c161055c74ffb4e1975859b9d16a02a.webp (Vicky López holding her young talent award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.; credit: FC Barcelona)

## Summary
- Vicky López won the women’s young talent award at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.
- The Barcelona midfielder has won both editions of the women’s award since its introduction in 2025.
- Her Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal won the men’s equivalent for the third consecutive year.

## Another award for López

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Vicky López won the women’s young talent award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, October 26, retaining the distinction she first claimed in 2025. The honor recognizes the world’s best female player under 21 and was presented during the awards’ 70th edition in London. [1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award) [2](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/deportes/lamine-yamal-y-vicky-lopez-conquistan-el-premio-kopa-2026-20261026-0056.html) [3](https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-lamine-yamal-vicky-lopez-repiten-trofeo-kopa-balon-oro-20261026221700.html)

England defender Lucy Bronze presented the award to the 20-year-old at the ceremony. López’s success followed Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal’s victory in the men’s youth category, giving the Catalan club the winners of both young-player distinctions early in the evening. [4](https://www.lagaceta.com.ar/nota/1159742/deportes/balon-oro-2026-vicky-lopez-gano-premio-mejor-jugadora-joven-mundo.html)

## Two editions, two victories

The women’s award was introduced in 2025, when López became its inaugural winner. Her second consecutive victory means she remains the only player to have collected the trophy. Barcelona’s announcement described Monday’s prize as the Women’s Young Talent of the Year award, while Spanish-language reporting also referred to it as the Kopa Trophy. [1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award) [3](https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-lamine-yamal-vicky-lopez-repiten-trofeo-kopa-balon-oro-20261026221700.html)

Europa Press reported that López finished ahead of a field that included Barcelona teammate Clara Serrajordi, Sweden’s Felicia Schröder, United States midfielder Lily Yohannes and Dutch defender Veerle Buurman. The shortlist brought together young players representing several of Europe’s leading clubs, with López successfully defending the recognition she earned a year earlier. [3](https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-lamine-yamal-vicky-lopez-repiten-trofeo-kopa-balon-oro-20261026221700.html)

## Recognition after a four-trophy season

The award follows López’s 2025–26 campaign under Barcelona coach Pere Romeu. According to the club, she made 45 appearances, started 31 matches and supplied 13 assists. Barcelona described her as an important part of Romeu’s plans during the season, rather than simply a developing player on the margins of the first team. [1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award)

Barcelona won Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup during that campaign. EFE’s report also highlighted those four trophies when outlining the season behind López’s latest individual honor. The midfielder is now in her fifth season with the club. [1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award) [2](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/deportes/lamine-yamal-y-vicky-lopez-conquistan-el-premio-kopa-2026-20261026-0056.html)

## Thanks to teammates and family

In accepting the award, López credited the teammates who help her improve. Barcelona’s account of her speech also recorded her thanks to her family, including a particular acknowledgment of what her mother taught her. Her response placed the individual distinction alongside the people who supported her development and the team’s collective achievements. [1](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award)

The parallel men’s result extended another Barcelona run: Yamal collected his third consecutive youth award. Europa Press noted that his victories followed earlier wins by Barcelona players Pedri in 2021 and Gavi in 2022. López’s back-to-back success establishes a separate, uninterrupted record in the newer women’s category, alongside that longer sequence of men’s winners. [3](https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-lamine-yamal-vicky-lopez-repiten-trofeo-kopa-balon-oro-20261026221700.html)

## Reporting sources
1. [FC Barcelona: Vicky López retains Young Talent of the Year award](https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/card/4599001/vicky-lopez-retains-young-talent-of-the-year-award) (2026-10-26)
2. [EFE / La Prensa Gráfica: Lamine Yamal y Vicky López conquistan el premio Kopa 2026](https://www.laprensagrafica.com/deportes/lamine-yamal-y-vicky-lopez-conquistan-el-premio-kopa-2026-20261026-0056.html) (2026-10-26)
3. [Europa Press / Notimérica: Lamine Yamal y Vicky López repiten con el Trofeo Kopa del Balón de Oro](https://www.notimerica.com/deportes/noticia-lamine-yamal-vicky-lopez-repiten-trofeo-kopa-balon-oro-20261026221700.html) (2026-10-26)
4. [La Gaceta: Balón de Oro 2026: Vicky López ganó el premio a la mejor jugadora joven del mundo](https://www.lagaceta.com.ar/nota/1159742/deportes/balon-oro-2026-vicky-lopez-gano-premio-mejor-jugadora-joven-mundo.html) (2026-10-26)