James Taylor, from Penarth, took home the Under-14 title at the 2026 Roma International Freestyle Cup in Rome and defended his championship at the Next Gen Urban Games Football Freestyle Championship in the Netherlands.
James, who first won the Next Gen Urban Games title in 2025, has now claimed the top spot two years running.
He competed against some of Europe’s most talented young freestylers, impressing judges with his technical ability and creativity.
James said: “I’m really proud to have won in Rome and successfully defended my title in the Netherlands.
“The standard was incredibly high and it was amazing to compete against so many talented freestylers from across the world.”
What makes his achievements even more impressive is that he is entirely self-taught, having learned freestyle football through online videos and tutorials.
The competitions were judged by some of the sport’s biggest names, including three-time World Freestyle Football Champion Michał Rycaj, two-time World Champion Szymon Skalski, and Dario Piantadosi, head of Rome Scuola Calcio.
The judging panel praised James for his composure, technical skill, and creativity.
His continued success on the international stage marks him out as one of Wales’ most promising young freestyle football talents.
