BALLON D’OR: BARCELONA STAR VICKY LÓPEZ HONOURS LATE NIGERIAN MOTHER
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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
Barcelona and Spain forward 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 on Monday.
The 20-year-old attacking midfielder dedicated the award to her mother, who died when she was 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 expressed gratitude to everyone who had contributed to her football journey, adding, “Thank you to everyone in football and let’s keep making this sport better.”
López, whose father is Spanish and mother Nigerian, was born in 2006 in Vallecas, a working-class neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain.
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Her passion for football developed at an early age, when she began playing in the streets with her older brother, Jesus, at just four years old.
Spanish football journalist Irati Vidal told BBC Sport that López’s playing style was strongly influenced by street football, which helped her develop the flair, agility and speed that distinguish her game.
“Vicky learned her craft on the streets of Vallecas, her style is very street-influenced,” Vidal said.
She added that López enjoyed playing for fun while admiring and attempting to replicate the dribbling skills of Brazilian football star Neymar.
The latest accolade follows an outstanding 2025/26 season in which Barcelona won the Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.
The award also marked López’s second consecutive Women’s Young Player of the Year honour, having won the inaugural edition in 2025.
Beyond her achievements at club level, López is targeting a place in Spain’s squad for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Speaking to Antena 3 Deportes, she described representing Spain as a dream shared by many young female footballers.
“I think wearing the Spain shirt is a dream that all girls who play football have,” she said.
“For me, winning a World Cup with Spain would be one of the greatest achievements.”
López’s ambitions are also deeply connected to the memory of her late mother, whom she has identified as one of her greatest sources of inspiration.
“For me, my mother is everything. A goal I have in life is to make her proud,” she said.
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