FCBarcelona continues to dominate the Best Talent award at the Ballon d'Or Gala, with seven of the ten awards awarded since the creation of the trophy in 2018. In the 2026 edition, the title is maintained under the name of "Best Young Talent" after the elimination of the surname "Kopa", and the Barça club consolidates itself as the most successful youth team in the competition.
The distinction, which is awarded to both male and female players, was named in honor of legendary French striker Raymond Kopa, who passed away in 2017. The trophy competes with Tuttosport's Golden Boy and celebrates young talents who have made their mark on the international scene. In the last edition, the award was once again in the hands of the Barça players, with Lamine Yamal and Vicky López securing the category in 2026, after having previously won in 2025.
The record shows that Barcelona has been the dominant force in the award: Pedri González received the recognition in 2021, Gavi in 2022, and Lamine Yamal has won three consecutive times since 2024. In the women's field, Vicky López has been the most decorated player, with victories in 2025 and 2026. Only three awards have been awarded to players from other teams: PSG's Kylian Mbappé in 2018, Matthijs de Ligt of Juventus in 2019 and Jude Bellingham, who was awarded for his achievements at Borussia Dortmund although he was already signed by Real Madrid in 2023. In 2020 the award was not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barça's success in this category reflects the effectiveness of the La Masia model, which has produced talents that stand out worldwide. The club continues to demonstrate its ability to develop young players who achieve international recognition, consolidating itself as the most productive youth academy in contemporary football. With Lamine Yamal and Vicky López as recent examples, Barcelona's future looks promising, and the club will continue to be a benchmark in the development of talents that shine in both the men's and women's fields.