Lamine Yamal named La Liga player of the year at AFE Awards

Lamine Yamal has been named the best player in La Liga for the second consecutive year at the fifth edition of the AFE Awards. The honor, voted on by professional players, saw the 19-year-old FC Barcelona winger surpass other top talents, including Kylian Mbappé.

During the ceremony in Madrid, Yamal expressed his appreciation for the peer-voted recognition, stating, “there is nothing better than being chosen by one's own teammates.” He also identified the Champions League as his primary goal for the upcoming season. The award follows a strong performance where he scored a brace in Barcelona's 5-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano.

Other notable winners included Patri Guijarro, who was named the best player in Liga F. The gala also recognized the Spanish national team for their career trajectory following recent international successes. Yamal also addressed transfer rumors regarding Julián Álvarez, noting that while Álvarez is a great player, Barcelona currently possesses a strong squad and does not lack scoring ability.