The race for the 2026 Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper, features a 10-man shortlist that includes Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and a surprising newcomer from Cape Verde. The winner will be announced at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
Nominees and Notable Surprises
The shortlist highlights a mix of established stars and emerging talents. Three Spanish goalkeepers are in the running: Unai Simón, who helped Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, David Raya, and Juan García. Other prominent names include Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, Switzerland’s Gregor Kobel, Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, Senegal’s Édouard Mendy, and Russia’s Matvey Safonov.
The most unexpected inclusion is Vozinha, the Cape Verdean goalkeeper, whose performances were instrumental in his nation’s historic run to the Round of 32 in their first World Cup appearance.
Bounou’s Path to the Nomination
Bounou earned his place on the shortlist through his pivotal role in Morocco’s journey to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals and his contribution to the Atlas Lions’ run to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final against Senegal.
The AFCON final itself was marked by controversy. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) initially awarded Morocco a default victory after Senegal withdrew in protest over a late penalty decision. Senegal later returned to complete the match, which Morocco won 1-0 in extra time. The Senegalese Football Federation has since filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with a ruling expected in October.
Ceremony Details
The Yashin Trophy winner will be revealed during the 70th Ballon d’Or gala, scheduled for October 26 in London. The event will also honor the best male and female players of the season.