Ballon d’Or: Vicky López honours her late Nigerian mother after winning young player award

Twenty-year-old Barcelona and Spain forward Vicky López dedicated her second consecutive Women’s Young Player of the Year award to her late Nigerian mother, Joy Felix, at Monday’s 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Felix died when López was 11, and the player said she still feels her mother’s presence and owes her everything she has achieved. Born in Madrid’s Vallecas neighbourhood, López began playing street football with her older brother and developed a style influenced by Neymar’s dribbling. After Barcelona won four titles in the 2025-26 season, she said she hopes to represent Spain at the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.