Lamine Yamal named La Liga Player of the Year after breakthrough 2025–26 season

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been named La Liga Player of the Year after the 2025–26 season, the league announced on its official social accounts on Friday. The 18-year-old finished the campaign with 16 goals and 12 assists in 28 league appearances and was highlighted as the division’s standout performer following a season in which he played a decisive role for Barcelona.

Why it matters

This award cements Yamal's rapid rise from promising teenager to the leading attacking figure at Barcelona. He becomes the youngest player to win La Liga’s top individual prize, surpassing Lionel Messi’s previous youngest-winner mark of 21. The recognition underlines Yamal’s influence on a title-winning campaign and signals a potential new era in Spanish football centred on the winger.

How Yamal earned the honour

According to the report, Yamal recorded 16 goals and 12 assists across 28 La Liga matches — an average of one goal contribution per game. Despite injuries during the season, including a groin problem early on and a hamstring issue late in the campaign that sidelined him at the very end, Yamal still led Barcelona’s attack, often shouldering more responsibility in the absences of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.

Other contenders and historical context

LaLiga’s social post listed Kylian Mbappé as the runner-up after his season with Real Madrid, despite that campaign being affected by injuries and lacking silverware. Also named among the main challengers were Villarreal’s Nicolas Pepe, Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi and Real Betis’s Pablo Fornals. The source notes that Messi remains the competition’s most decorated player, having won the La Liga Player of the Year award nine times, while Cristiano Ronaldo claimed it once during his time at Real Madrid.

• Lamine Yamal: 16 goals and 12 assists in 28 La Liga matches (source)
• Named La Liga Player of the Year in the league’s social announcement on Friday (source)
• Youngest ever winner — beats Lionel Messi’s previous mark of 21 (source)
• Main challengers listed: Kylian Mbappé, Nicolás Pepe, Vedat Muriqi, Pablo Fornals (source)
• Messi holds record with nine Player of the Year awards; Cristiano Ronaldo won once (source)

Injury context and squad implications

The source reports Yamal faced a groin issue early in the season and a hamstring problem that sidelined him late on. Despite those setbacks, he remained Barcelona’s primary attacking threat for much of the campaign, especially when senior forwards Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were unavailable. The article does not provide further medical details, recovery timelines, or comments from club staff.

What happens next

LaLiga's announcement formally recognises Yamal’s status after the season. The source does not include club or player quotes, nor details of any follow-up events (such as an awards ceremony). Verification from LaLiga's official press release or Barcelona will be needed to confirm award presentation details and to obtain reactions from the player and club.