More than half of the awards handed out on Monday were won by Spanish players, coaches or clubs.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or gala was held in London on Monday and it was a historic night for Spanish football. Of the 13 awards handed out at the London Palladium Theatre, eight of them were won by Spanish players, coaches or clubs. Of the remaining five, three were won by representatives of England, one of France and one of Mexico. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
There was complete Spanish dominance in the Young Talent of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year and Coach of the Year prizes, given that all six of the winners across the men’s and women’s categories were Spanish.
In the young player awards, the Kopa Trophy was given out to FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal on the men’s side for the third year in a row, even if the LALIGA EA SPORTS superstar admitted during his speech that he’d have loved to see his club and international teammate Pau Cubarsí win it this time around. Meanwhile, the Young Talent of the Year prize on the women’s side also went to an FC Barcelona player, as Vicky López retained the prize she won last year.
The goalkeeping honours went to Athletic Club’s Unai Simón on the men’s side and FC Barcelona’s Cata Coll on the women’s. The two Spaniards have now won the Yashin Trophy for the first time in their careers, after enjoying excellent 2025/26 seasons, which in the case of Simón culminated in the lifting of the World Cup with Spain while conceding just one goal in the tournament.
The coach of the Spain national team, Luis de la Fuente, also picked up a prize as he was named the best coach in men’s football. The 65-year-old has dedicated his entire career to Spanish football and worked his way up to his current role by coaching in the youth categories of the national team setup. Meanwhile, Pere Romeu won the award as the best coach in women’s football, for his work in charge of FC Barcelona Femení.
FC Barcelona also won the prize for being the Women’s Club of the Year, with Romeu’s side having won four trophies in 2025/26, including Liga F and the Catalan club’s fourth UEFA Women’s Champions League.
A third Ballon d’Or for Alexia Putellas
The biggest individual honour in women’s football is the Ballon d’Or Féminin and this was awarded to Alexia Putellas, who has now collected this trophy three times in her career. As one of the star players during FC Barcelona Femení’s incredible 2025/26 campaign, the Spain international is officially the best women’s player in the world once again. Although Putellas has since moved to the London City Lionesses, she made clear during her speech that this success was achieved thanks to the support provided to her by everyone at FC Barcelona.
Putellas’ victory also means that the Ballon d’Or Féminin has now been won by a Spaniard in each of the past six seasons. Specifically, she and Aitana Bonmatí have shared this trophy between them since 2021.
Three LALIGA EA SPORTS players in the top four of the men’s Ballon d’Or
The men’s Ballon d’Or was won by Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker. He was closely followed by several LALIGA EA SPORTS talents, with Kylian Mbappé finishing second, Lamine Yamal third and Rodri fourth.
That marks the highest finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings in Mbappé’s career, while Lamine Yamal has now made the podium twice before the age of 20. Both players have started 2026/27 in very strong form as well, and will surely be in the mix for the award once again next year.
