Lamine Yamal Crowned La Liga Player of The Season

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has been named the La Liga Player of the Season for the 2025-26 campaign after playing a starring role in the club’s successful title defence. The 18-year-old Spain international was announced as the winner on Friday, June 5, beating a shortlist that included Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Yamal ended the league campaign with 16 goals and 11 assists from 28 appearances, finishing as Barcelona’s joint-leading scorer in La Liga and the division’s most productive creator. He registered the highest number of assists in Spain’s top flight for the second consecutive season.

The teenager was instrumental as Barcelona cruised to their 29th Spanish league title, finishing top of the table with 94 points, eight clear of second-placed Real Madrid. Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was also named Coach of the Season for the second straight year.

“Another award for the talent of Lamine Yamal,” Barcelona’s official club statement read. “The FC Barcelona number 10 has been acknowledged as the 2025-26 La Liga player of the season”. The club added: “The La Masia forward’s wizardry is evident. Every match he brought dribbling, goals and assists. He is the proverbial headache for opponent defences”.

Yamal’s achievement is particularly notable given his fitness struggles during the campaign. He missed several matches through groin and hamstring injuries, and his season was ultimately cut short in late April by a hamstring problem that forced him to miss the final six league matches . Despite this, his performances proved enough to secure the league’s top individual honour.

The 18-year-old has now become the youngest player ever named La Liga Player of the Season, eclipsing previous winners Jude Bellingham and Lionel Messi, who were 20 and 21 respectively when they received the honour. He also became the first player to win La Liga’s Player of the Month award three times in a single season, claiming the prize in November, December and April.

Yamal succeeded his teammate Raphinha, who won the award in the 2024-25 season. The victory means Barcelona players have now claimed the league’s biggest individual prize in consecutive campaigns.

The winner was determined through a combined vote involving fans, club captains and a panel of experts. Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia also received recognition, earning the Save of the Season award.

Yamal’s injury had raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. However, he has since been included in Spain’s squad, and national team coach Luis de la Fuente has suggested he could be fit in time for La Roja’s opening match against Cape Verde on June 15.