{"id":17331,"date":"2026-06-06T03:02:29","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T21:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/barcelonas-lamine-yamal-beats-kylian-mbappe-to-become-youngest-ever-laliga-player-of-the-season-winner-football-news\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T03:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T21:32:29","slug":"barcelonas-lamine-yamal-beats-kylian-mbappe-to-become-youngest-ever-laliga-player-of-the-season-winner-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/barcelonas-lamine-yamal-beats-kylian-mbappe-to-become-youngest-ever-laliga-player-of-the-season-winner-football-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona&#8217;s Lamine Yamal beats Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 to become youngest-ever LaLiga Player of the Season winner | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-131540638,imgsize-168328,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/champions-league-barcelona-travels-to-newcastle-as-round-of-16-gets-underway.jpg\" alt=\"Barcelona's Lamine Yamal beats Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 to become youngest-ever LaLiga Player of the Season winner\" title=\"Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Barcelona's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort)\">Barcelona&#8217;s Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his side&#8217;s 2nd goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lamine Yamal&#8217;s remarkable rise has reached another milestone. The Barcelona teenager has been named LaLiga Player of the Season after helping the Catalan club retain the Spanish title, beating a shortlist that included Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi, Real Betis midfielder Pablo Fornals and Villarreal forward Nicolas P\u00e9p\u00e9.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>The award caps another extraordinary year for the 18-year-old, who continues to shatter age-related records across the sport. Yamal became the youngest player ever named LaLiga Player of the Season, eclipsing previous winners Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi, who were 20 and 21 respectively when they received the honour. After exploding onto the scene as a 16-year-old and playing a key role in Spain&#8217;s Euro 2024 triumph, he has now cemented his status as Barcelona&#8217;s attacking leader and one of world football&#8217;s most influential young stars.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"7\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>A title-winning season that set Yamal apart<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/>Barcelona cruised to their 29th Spanish league title, finishing the campaign with 94 points, eight ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, and Yamal played a central role in that success throughout the season.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/>The teenager finished the league campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists, ending the season as Barcelona&#8217;s joint-leading scorer in LaLiga alongside Ferran Torres while also emerging as the division&#8217;s most productive creator.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>No player in Spain&#8217;s top flight registered more assists than Yamal, whose 11 goal contributions for teammates made him LaLiga&#8217;s leading playmaker for the second consecutive season.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"16\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>His 16 goals also represented the highest-scoring league campaign of his young career, underlining how quickly his attacking game has evolved under Hansi Flick.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/>Whether creating chances or finishing them himself, Yamal became Barcelona&#8217;s go-to attacking outlet throughout the title race, with his contributions playing a major role in securing back-to-back league crowns.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"23\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Winning despite an injury-disrupted campaign<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>The numbers become even more impressive when viewed against the backdrop of Yamal&#8217;s fitness issues.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>The winger made only 28 LaLiga appearances after missing several matches through groin and hamstring injuries during the campaign.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"29\"\/>His season was ultimately cut short by a hamstring problem suffered during Barcelona&#8217;s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo at the end of April.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"31\"\/>The injury forced him to miss the final six league matches of the season, yet his performances across the rest of the campaign proved enough to secure the league&#8217;s top individual honour.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The World Cup will be missing some star players as injuries mount before the big kickoff\" msid=\"131540627\" width=\"\" title=\"Barcelona's Lamine Yamal lays on the pitch after getting injured during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Celta Vigo in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort)\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" imgsize=\"\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/msid-131540627\/the-world-cup-will-be-missing-some-star-players-as-injuries-mount-before-the-big-kickoff.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Barcelona&#8217;s Lamine Yamal lays on the pitch after getting injured during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Celta Vigo in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>Yamal&#8217;s absence also raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/fifa-world-cup\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">FIFA World Cup<\/a>, with the teenager later admitting he feared the injury could rule him out of the tournament. However, he has since been included in Spain&#8217;s squad, and national team coach Luis de la Fuente has suggested he could be fit in time for La Roja&#8217;s opening match against Cape Verde on June 15.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"40\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Beating Mbapp\u00e9 and a strong field of contenders<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>Yamal&#8217;s triumph is particularly notable given the quality of the players he beat to the award. <!-- -->Mbapp\u00e9 arrived in Spain last summer amid enormous expectations and finished his debut LaLiga campaign as the division&#8217;s top scorer with 25 goals.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"46\"\/>Despite winning the Pichichi Trophy, however, the French forward was unable to claim the league&#8217;s biggest individual prize.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"48\"\/>Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi was also shortlisted after scoring 23 goals, although his impressive tally could not prevent the club&#8217;s relegation.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"51\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"53\"\/>Pablo Fornals and Nicolas P\u00e9p\u00e9 completed the shortlist after helping Real Betis and Villarreal respectively secure qualification for next season&#8217;s UEFA Champions League.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"55\"\/>The winner was determined through a combined vote involving fans, club captains and a panel of experts, with Yamal ultimately emerging as the clear choice.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"57\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Following Raphinha and continuing Barcelona&#8217;s dominance<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"59\"\/>Yamal&#8217;s victory means Barcelona players have now won the award in consecutive seasons. <!-- -->Last year it was Raphinha who received the honour after producing 18 goals and 11 assists during Barcelona&#8217;s title-winning campaign.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"63\"\/>This year&#8217;s award remains in Catalonia while changing hands within the same dressing room, further highlighting Barcelona&#8217;s dominance of the domestic competition over the past two seasons. That sustained success has now been reflected not only in the league table but also in the division&#8217;s biggest individual awards.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"66\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"68\"\/>For Yamal, meanwhile, this marks the first time he has been named LaLiga Player of the Season, and given the trajectory of his career, it may not be the last.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"70\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Barcelona sweep the major LaLiga awards<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"72\"\/>Yamal was not the only Barcelona figure recognised when LaLiga announced its end-of-season honours.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"74\"\/>Head coach Hansi Flick was named Coach of the Season after guiding Barcelona to another league title and overseeing one of the most entertaining attacking teams in Europe.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"77\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"79\"\/>Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garc\u00eda also collected the Save of the Season award for his remarkable stop from former Espanyol teammate Pere Milla.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"81\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"83\"\/>Elsewhere, Levante striker Carlos Esp\u00ed was named Young Player of the Season after scoring 11 goals, including 10 across the final 13 matches of the campaign to help his side avoid relegation.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"85\"\/>Real Madrid midfielder Arda G\u00fcler received Goal of the Season recognition for his spectacular strike from the halfway line against Elche.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"88\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Another landmark moment in Yamal&#8217;s extraordinary rise<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"90\"\/>Only two years ago, Yamal was still being introduced to senior football, but he has since developed into one of the most influential young players in the game.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"92\"\/>Today, he is a European champion with Spain, a LaLiga title winner, Barcelona&#8217;s attacking leader and now officially the league&#8217;s best player.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"94\"\/>At 18 years old, he has already become the first player to win LaLiga&#8217;s Player of the Month award three times in a single season and has added the league&#8217;s biggest individual honour to an expanding collection of achievements.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"97\"\/>With the World Cup now approaching and Spain once again viewing him as one of their central figures, Yamal&#8217;s latest award feels less like the culmination of a breakthrough and more like another step in a career that continues to accelerate at remarkable speed.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"99\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/football\/top-stories\/barcelonas-lamine-yamal-beats-kylian-mbapp-to-become-youngest-ever-laliga-player-of-the-season-winner\/articleshow\/131540546.cms\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barcelona&#8217;s Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his side&#8217;s 2nd goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Villareal in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo\/Joan Monfort) Lamine Yamal&#8217;s remarkable rise has reached another milestone. The Barcelona teenager has been named LaLiga Player of the Season after helping the Catalan club retain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17332,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[299],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-latest-news"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17331"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17331\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17332"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/banitoday.com\/hi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}