Yan Diomandé nominated for the 2026 Kopa Trophy, alongside Lamine Yamal

The list revealed on Tuesday, September 8 by the Ballon d’Or organizers places the Real Madrid player alongside Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Kerim Alajbegović.

For Yan Diomandé, 19, this appointment extends a rise that has become spectacular in just a few months. After making his mark in the Bundesliga and then with the Elephants, the Ivorian winger officially joined Real Madrid this summer and is now attracting attention even in major individual awards.

Yan Diomandé facing very high-level competition

The battle promises to be intense. Lamine Yamal, already a two-time winner of the Kopa Trophy, is among the main names in this selection. Yan Diomandé had already been part of another highly followed race this summer, with his inclusion among the candidates for the Golden Boy 2026.

Yan Diomandé’s presence in this Top 10 primarily represents a new recognition of his progress. Sport-Ivoire and Linfodrome also confirmed the Ivorian’s nomination this Tuesday, while the official Ballon d’Or communication lists him among the ten candidates.

The winner will be announced during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled for October 26 in London. In the meantime, Yan Diomandé is already adding a prestigious achievement to a year that has propelled him to the forefront of Ivorian football.