LaLiga’s 2025-26 campaign finished with Hansi Flick’s Barcelona retaining the title after a season that began with Xabi Alonso installed to reclaim the crown for Real Madrid. Alonso was dismissed midway through the campaign, and Real Madrid ended a second consecutive year without a major trophy, according to the season review.
Player of the season went to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and Spain. The review noted Yamal finished with 24 goals and 11 assists in all competitions, often played while carrying groin pain, faced frequent triple-marking and missed extended spells alongside Raphinha. The write-up also referenced a recent club-versus-country dispute involving the forward.
The season review compared Yamal’s early returns with those of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at similar ages. It cited Messi’s 25 appearances at 18 with eight goals and five assists, and Ronaldo’s combined two half-seasons from February 2003 to February 2004 producing one goal and four assists.
Runners-up for the player award included Eric García of Barcelona and Vedat Muriqi of Mallorca. The review praised García’s positional versatility and level of performance week to week, and said Muriqi produced a high goal total that pushed it close to the league’s top scorers.
Goal of the season was awarded to Nico Williams of Athletic Club for a strike against Levante. The review described Levante pressing in their own box before Athletic broke with quick passes involving Yuri Berchiche, Álex Berenguer and Robert Navarro; Berenguer threaded a through ball, Williams covered about 40 metres and lobbed goalkeeper Mathew Ryan with the outside of his right foot. The review noted Williams had missed two months of the season with a groin injury.
