There’s an old Italian saying: “There isn’t two without three.” When it comes to Lamine Yamal’s swollen glut of Kopa Trophies, the expression rings true.

Only once before in the, admittedly limited, history of the award handed out by France Football to the best U-21 player on the planet had anyone claimed the gong more than once. Yamal now stands alone with three prodigious crowns. Remarkably, he would still be eligible for a fourth next year.

Barcelona ’s impish 19-year-old enjoyed the best season of a career which has already scaled so many peaks. Yamal was the club’s leading scorer and most prolific provider of assists in a rampant league title win, averaging one goal or assist every 90 minutes he was on the pitch.

Beyond the cold hard numbers, Yamal has that “special spark,” to use his own description. In a world of rigorous tactical instructions, there is something infectious about the old magic of a pure dribbler like Barcelona’s No.…