Barcelona and Spain star Vicky López has paid an emotional tribute to her late Nigerian mother, Joy Felix, after winning the Women’s Young Player of the Year award at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The 20-year-old Vicky López midfielder dedicated the award to her mother, who died when she was just 11, saying she continued to feel her presence despite her absence.

“Mum, although you can’t be with me physically, I feel your presence every day. Everything I’ve achieved I owe to you, so thank you for teaching me never to give up,” López said.

She also thanked those who had supported her football career and called for continued efforts to improve the game.

López, whose father is Spanish and mother Nigerian, was born in 2006 in Vallecas, a working-class neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain.

Her football journey began at the age of four when she played in the streets with her older brother, Jesus. Those early experiences helped shape the dribbling skills, speed and agility that have become key features of her game.

Spanish football journalist Irati Vidal told BBC Sport that López’s playing style reflected her street-football background, adding that she grew up admiring Brazilian forward Neymar and trying to imitate his dribbling skills.

The latest honour follows an outstanding 2025-26 season in which Barcelona won four major trophies: Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Supercopa de España and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The award was López’s second consecutive Women’s Young Player of the Year title, following her success in the inaugural edition in 2025.

Beyond her achievements at club level, the Barcelona star is targeting a place in Spain’s squad for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

She described representing Spain as a dream shared by many young female footballers and said winning the World Cup would rank among the greatest achievements of her career.

Her ambition is also driven by the desire to make her late mother proud.

“For me, my mother is everything. A goal I have in life is to make her proud,” she has said. (The Sun)