Barcelona's 20-year-old Vicky López was named the best young female player at the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in London. During her acceptance speech, she movingly remembered her late mother, Joy Felix, in a touching tribute.
As she accepted the award, Vicky López said, "Even though you're no longer with me, Mom, I feel you every step of the way. I am who I am today, and I've achieved everything because of you."
Vicky López's mother, Joy Felix, passed away from a brain tumor in 2018 when Vicky was only 11 years old. Since then, she has honored her mother's memory by looking up at the sky after every goal.
This is the second consecutive year Vicky López has received the Kopa Trophy for best young female player. The award introduced a women's category for the first time in 2025, making Vicky López its inaugural recipient.
Standing on the Ballon d'Or stage once again, Vicky López dedicated this honor to her mother—not only another career achievement, but a profound remembrance and tribute to her memory.