Ballon d’Or 2026: Three African goalkeepers nominated for Yashin Trophy
September 8, 2026 1:04 pm
Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy
Three African goalkeepers have been named among the 10 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award (Yashin Trophy), highlighting the continent’s representation among the world’s top goalkeepers.
Morocco’s Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal), Senegal’s Édouard Mendy (Al Ahli), and Cape Verde’s Vozinha (Colo-Colo) feature on the shortlist announced by France Football on Tuesday.
They join a competitive field that also includes Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona), Unai Simón (Athletic Club), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund), Emiliano Martínez and Matvey Safonov.
The nominations cover performances from August 2025 to July 2026 and take into account the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Strong representation for Africa
Vozinha’s nomination followed his standout performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 40-year-old shot-stopper became one of the tournament’s breakout stars after producing a series of impressive displays against eventual champions Spain and Argentina.
He was voted into FIFA’s fan-selected World Cup Dream Team after helping tournament debutants Cape Verde hold Spain to a goalless draw and pushing Argentina into extra time in the Round of 32. Cape Verde were later eliminated after suffering a 3-2 extra-time defeat to Argentina.
His exploits at the World Cup also brought him widespread global attention, with his social media following rising from fewer than 50,000 before the tournament to nearly 29 million.
Vozinha, who captained Cape Verde, was without a club at the time of the World Cup. He signed for Chilean football giants Colo-Colo weeks after the competition.
Meanwhile, Bounou, a key figure for the Atlas Lions and a previous CAF award winner, continues to earn recognition for his consistent high-level displays in Saudi Arabia and with Morocco.
Mendy, the experienced Senegal international and former Chelsea No. 1, remains one of Africa’s most decorated goalkeepers after earlier continental success.
Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
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